Equal Justice Works Joins Forces with National Partners to Commemorate Disaster Resilience Awareness Month

Equal Justice Works, American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness, American Red Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Legal Services Corporation, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Pro Bono Net and DisasterLegalAid.org lead effort to raise awareness for disaster resilience

Disaster Resilience Awareness Month will take place in March 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 22, 2023—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, announced today that it is proud to join the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD), American Bar Association Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness (ABA SCDRP), American Red Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), Legal Services Corporation (LSC), National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD), Pro Bono Net, and DisasterLegalAid.org in its third annual Disaster Resilience Awareness Month in March 2023.

“In the face of unceasing climate-related and human-made disasters, it is imperative that we equip lawyers and advocates with the necessary tools and resources to support disaster-weary communities,” said Equal Justice Works CEO Verna Williams. “Hosting Disaster Resilience Awareness Month with these leading organizations will strengthen the legal community’s response to disasters and ensure that those affected have an equitable and just recovery.”

Equal Justice Works created Disaster Resilience Awareness Month—observed every March—as a collaborative effort to spread awareness about disaster-related challenges, provide resources for survivors and advocates, and highlight the important role that legal professionals play in disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience efforts. This year, the ABA YLD, ABA SCDRP, American Red Cross, CDP, LSC, National VOAD, Pro Bono Net and DisasterLegalAid.org will join Equal Justice Works for this public education campaign.

“This Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy is pleased to join Equal Justice Works in bringing attention to the legal complexities that face disaster-affected communities,” said Patricia McIlreavy, president and CEO of CDP. “We’re happy to celebrate the support this initiative provides communities on their path to recovery.”

“The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is honored to continue to work with Equal Justice Works and other national partners on this effort. LSC-funded legal services organizations serve on the front lines in assisting low-income disaster survivors with their post-disaster civil legal needs. Unfortunately, the demand for their services has grown significantly over the last several years,” said Lynn Jennings, vice president for grants management at Legal Services Corporation. “As legal aid organizations’ role and expertise in the disaster arena expand and grow, it’s imperative for us to take a more holistic approach in increasing the disaster resilience of low-income individuals, families, and communities. To that end, LSC, along with other partners, has developed the Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center which provides comprehensive resources to assist legal services organizations, courts, individuals, and communities in enhancing their disaster resilience.”

During the month-long public education campaign, Fellows in the Equal Justice Works Disaster Resilience Program will share their expertise and information on legal services available to disaster survivors and best practices to advocate for individuals and families who need help recovering from the legal effects of disasters.

“National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) is excited to join National VOAD Member Equal Justice Works in observing Disaster Resilience Awareness Month,” said Justin Wilder, manager of communications and support services at National VOAD. “The 4 Cs of Communication, Collaboration, Cooperation, and Coordination are central to what we do at National VOAD and are at the center of any effort to increase resilience amongst disaster response and recovery organizations, as well as in communities we serve.”

Pro Bono Net, through its national DisasterLegalAid.org initiative, offers free resources to survivors and legal advocates responding to the impact of climate disasters in the United States. Advocates can join a network of over 700 members by visiting www.disasterlegalaid.org/advocates and access CLE materials and trainings, listservs that facilitate peer-to-peer learning, and sample letters and forms when representing survivors seeking disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“Our communities are stronger and more resilient when we’re prepared,” said Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, senior program manager at Pro Bono Net. “At Pro Bono Net, we believe in the power of collaboration and networks to build resilience in the wake of climate-driven disasters. We are honored to participate in this effort.”

“Disaster management and humanitarian aid organizations have had to reevaluate how communities and individuals can better adapt and prepare for future disaster events. Increasing a community’s resilience level increases its ability to cope with the changes that affect it,” said Disaster Cycle Services, Red Cross. “Creating awareness of the vulnerabilities in an area, and addressing these vulnerabilities with preparedness training, disaster risk reduction and sustainable changes made over the long-term can develop a community’s adaptive capacity to be more resilient.”

As part of Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, Equal Justice Works will also bring together legal, academic, and community voices instrumental in disaster law and the resilience movement for a two-day Disaster Resilience Symposium on March 15–16 in Gulfport, Florida. Participants will have the opportunity to examine latest trends in disaster academia, systemic issues, and the future of disaster response and preparedness, highlighting tools and resources that can be used by advocates to build resiliency in the communities they serve. The ABA, ABA YLD, and Stetson University College of Law will co-host the event.

“The ABA Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness is thrilled to join Equal Justice Works in observing Disaster Resilience Awareness Month for the first time this year,” said Linda Anderson Stanley, chair of the ABA SCDRP and senior manager of disaster programs at Equal Justice Works. “Collaboration among the many entities active in disaster response and preparedness across the country is a key component to building disaster resilience. We are looking forward to working with Equal Justice Works and Stetson Law to offer our first Disaster Resilience Symposium in March as well.”

Through their Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA YLD will engage in community outreach and education by posting information on how to get involved in national disaster legal aid efforts. ABA YLD will also share service delivery strategies and best practices for representing disaster survivors.

Since 2005, Equal Justice Works has mobilized hundreds of passionate public service lawyers to deliver legal services to disaster-affected communities. To learn more about the organization’s efforts to mobilize public service leaders who are helping individuals and communities navigate all kinds of disasters including COVID-19, hurricanes, flooding, tornados, wildfires, and winter storms, visit here.

If your organization is interested in joining Equal Justice Works for Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, please reach to [email protected].

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice.

About the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Program

The ABA YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and one of the largest voluntary professional membership groups in the world.

Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency provide immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge. Since September 2007, the ABA YLD has responded to 178 declared disasters in 44 states and 4 U.S. territories.

About the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness

The Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness is committed to educating lawyers, bar associations and the justice system to prepare for and respond to disasters; provide resources to assist lawyers and the public recover from disasters; and ensure the rule of law in times of disaster.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to survivors of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

The American Red Cross name and logo are used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross name and logo are registered trademarks owned by the American National Red Cross.

About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy mobilizes philanthropy to strengthen communities’ ability to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. It provides expert advice and resources while managing domestic and international disaster funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. Find out more at disasterphilanthropy.org and on Twitter @funds4disaster.

About Legal Services Corporation

Legal Services Corporation (LSC), an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974, is the nation’s largest funder of civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 132 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center is a one-stop information hub to provide additional support and resources to disaster legal aid organizations and professionals, pro bono volunteers, and disaster survivors.

About National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) was founded over 50 years ago in response to the challenges many disaster organizations experienced following Hurricane Camille, a category 5 storm that hit the Gulf Coast in August 1969. National VOAD promotes cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration, and fosters more effective delivery of services to communities affected by disaster.

About Pro Bono Net and DisasterLegalAid.org

Pro Bono Net brings the power of the law to all by building cutting-edge digital tools and fostering collaborations with the nation’s leading civil legal organizations. DisasterLegalAid.org is a collaborative effort of Lone Star Legal Aid, Pro Bono Net, the American Bar Association, and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association. It was launched in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For over 15 years, DisasterLegalAid.org has served as a national centralized resource for disaster survivors and the legal community. To learn more, please visit www.probono.net/our-work/initiatives/disaster/.

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