The Rockefeller Foundation Hosts Resilience Summit To Help Eligible Jurisdictions Prepare For $1 Billion National Disaster Resilience Competition

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rockefeller Foundation is hosting the "National Disaster Resilience Competition Summit" on November 18^th in Washington, DC to help eligible jurisdictions prepare for the $1 billion National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC).

As part of the Foundation's global effort to help communities everywhere build resilience to chronic shocks and acute stresses, so that they are prepared for whatever comes their way, the National Disaster Resilience Competition Summit represents a unique opportunity for senior representative from each of the 67 eligible jurisdictions to engage with cabinet-level officials and leading experts in resilience to shape their NDRC strategy and projects, and inform their overall resilience planning efforts.

"The most resilient communities are those that are best at preparing for the worst," said Dr. Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "The National Disaster Resilience Competition Summit offers leaders in every state the opportunity to jumpstart their own resilience plans so that they can be ready for whatever comes their way – because their next crisis will look different from their last one, and in the meantime they can have stronger communities day-to-day."

Following welcoming remarks on November 17^th from The Honorable John Podesta, Counselor to the President, on behalf of the Obama Administration, the Summit begins on November 18^th with a full day agenda including:

• Opening remarks from Dr. Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Julian Castro
• Keynote by Rear Admiral David Titley, U.S. Navy focused on climate risk and national security
• Small breakout group discussions about innovative resilience project solutions
• An overview of the NDRC, and instruction on how to organize upcoming submissions
• Opportunities to learn more about the curriculum for upcoming "Resilience Academies" that The Rockefeller Foundation is organizing around the country for December and January
• Closing remarks from Shaun Donovan, White House Office of Management and Budget  

"Climate change is an urgent matter that requires greater collaboration between public and private partners," said HUD Secretary Julian Castro. "HUD's $1 billion National Disaster Resilience Competition will help communities devastated by natural disasters build back stronger and more resilient than before.  And by working more closely with philanthropic partners like The Rockefeller Foundation, we can develop new solutions to meet emerging threats."

ABOUT THE NATIONAL DISASTER RESILIENCE COMPETITION

The Rockefeller Foundation is working in partnership with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support the NDRC, a $1 billion competition where communities that have experienced national disasters are invited to compete for funds to help them rebuild and increase their resilience to future disasters.  The competition will support innovative resilience projects at the local level while encouraging communities to adopt policy changes and activities that plan for the impacts of extreme weather and climate change and rebuild affected areas to be better prepared for the future.

In addition to the National Disaster Resilience Competition Summit, the Foundation is developing and hosting series of "Resilience Academies" for states and communities around the country that aim to build their understanding of resilience; the hazards, shocks, stresses, and other factors that contribute to an uncertain future; the role of innovation and design in resilience building; and strategies for resilience planning in their home communities, especially in ways that will benefit poor and vulnerable people who are often hit hardest when disaster strikes.   These two-day regional academies, led by industry experts using a curriculum developed by Columbia University's Teachers College, will be held in early 2015 around the country. 

For more about the NDRC: https://www.hudexchange.info/cdbg-dr/resilient-recovery/

ABOUT THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

For more than 100 years, The Rockefeller Foundation's mission has been to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Today, The Rockefeller Foundation pursues this mission through dual goals: advancing inclusive economies that expand opportunities for more broadly shared prosperity, and building resilience by helping people, communities and institutions prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses. To achieve these goals, The Rockefeller Foundation works at the intersection of four focus areas – advance health, revalue ecosystems, secure livelihoods, and transform cities – to address the root causes of emerging challenges and create systemic change. Together with partners and grantees, The Rockefeller Foundation strives to catalyze and scale transformative innovations, create unlikely partnerships that span sectors, and take risks others cannot – or will not.

For more about The Rockefeller Foundation: www.rockefellerfoundation.org.

SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation

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