South Florida climate resilience training program graduates inaugural cohort
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2016
On December 13th, 2016 Catalyst Miami will celebrate the inaugural cohort of CLEAR Miami (Community Leadership on the Environment, Advocacy, and Resilience) at CIC Miami (1951 NW 7th Ave). This training program was created in response to the challenges that Miami-Dade County’s 2.7 million residents are likely to face as a consequence of climate change and sea level rise. These challenges include an endangerment of 90% of South Florida’s drinking water, 7-foot storm surges occurring every five years instead of the current 76-year frequency, an increased number of King Tide flooding events and heat waves, as well as a threat to the County’s tourism and agricultural economies. The over 1.5 million Miami-Dade County residents that are financially vulnerable will face a disproportionate climate burden because these populations have the least resources to adapt and recover from these and other climate shocks.
CLEAR Miami focuses on climate resilience leadership and provides graduates with a groundwork to become climate resilience educators, leaders, and innovators in their own communities and beyond. Participants will develop a deep understanding of climate science, local climate change threats, and solutions. The program is a 12-week commitment. As a result of the program the graduates have taken on community projects. These projects include: incorporating environmental concerns in neighborhood coalitions (Allapattah and Goulds), cleaning up garbage and promoting recycling in their neighborhoods (Little Haiti and Liberty City), and promoting emergency preparedness (Overtown, Liberty City, Kendall). For more information on CLEAR Miami or the upcoming event, contact Zelalem Adefris, Climate Resilience Program Manager, at zelalema@catalystmiami.org
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Catalyst Miami is an anti-poverty nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and support individual leaders and strong organizations that work together to improve health, economic opportunity, and civic engagement in our community. To learn more about Catalyst Miami, visit www.catalystmiami.org.
CONTACT
Molly Delahunty
Catalyst Miami
786-414-1292
mollyd@catalystmiami.org
