Building Resilience Across Generations

A dedicated group of nine New York City high school students spent the summer helping neighbors become more prepared, informed, and resilient.

As United We Prepare Resiliency Ambassadors, they helped residents prepare for flooding, extreme heat and other hazards by sharing resources, providing information, and strengthening resilience in their communities.

The program is part of United We Prepare, a United Way Worldwide initiative supported by Verizon that helps communities prepare for disasters and emergencies. 

Led by United Way of New York City in partnership with New York Edge, a nonprofit that provides after-school and youth leadership programs, the fellowship gave students the opportunity to put preparedness into practice while serving their communities.

“Being able to spread the word and share what we learned made me feel like we were really making a difference and helping the community feel more prepared and safe," said Ophelia Lei.

Building Skills That Make a Difference

Fellows learned about emergency preparedness and effective community outreach. Along the way, they developed leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

“Programs like these give students a huge opportunity that aren't given to many," said Resiliency Ambassador Sha-King Smith. "We can use these skills and strategies in the real world and have skills to add to our resumes and gives us a feel of what working in this field feels like."

Throughout the program, fellows participated in community outreach events, neighborhood gatherings and educational activities designed to help residents prepare for emergencies before they happen.

Their work included:

• Sharing preparedness information and resources with residents.
• Helping community members access emergency alerts and notifications.
• Connecting older adults with tools and information that can help them stay informed during emergencies.
• Supporting community events focused on preparedness and resilience.
• Encouraging neighbors to take simple steps to protect themselves and their families.

Image

Being able to spread the word and share what we learned made me feel like we were really making a difference and helping the community feel more prepared and safe,"

Resiliency Ambassador Ophelia Lei

Why Preparedness Matters

Research from United Way Worldwide and Verizon found that while 60% of U.S. adults are concerned a natural disaster could affect their household, only 15% feel very prepared for one. The survey also found that 84% have not created or tested a household emergency plan, and 65% have not assembled emergency supplies.

Nearly half of respondents said cost is the biggest obstacle, while others said they don't know where to start or don't have enough time.

That's why community-based programs like the youth fellowship matter. By sharing trusted information, helping residents access emergency alerts and connecting neighbors with resources, fellows helped make preparedness more accessible and easier to understand.

“It was an incredible initiative to bring to life, and we're really proud of the meaningful impact it had on both the students and the community,” said Alessandra Angarita, senior director of volunteerism at United Way of New York City.