006: How to Serve Vulnerable Communities with Alma Bowen

How to Disaster

SERIES: Role of the Non-Profit

“You cannot approach a community without respecting in full who they are and their autonomy. If you can't approach it that way, it's going to come off as ingenuine, and they're going to read it right away, and that disengages people right off the bat.” -Alma Bowen

Episode Description:

In the event of a disaster, first responders receive calls beyond number, but only a small fraction of these come from communities that need help the most. Oftentimes, they are the last to receive assistance because of language barriers, documentation issues, disabilities, and lack of technical knowledge. Hence, this episode focuses on helping 3 of the most vulnerable groups build resiliency: the Latin X community, seniors, and undocumented immigrants. Tune in as Jennifer and Alma Bowen, the CEO and Founder of Nuestra Comunidad, discuss the best practices and most appropriate approaches to bring the culture of preparedness and resiliency into these communities. They talk about practical steps to address problems in communicating information, creating an alert system, power outage, evacuation plans, and transportation. In addition to helping communities, hear how Alma and her team launched a special project on training the younger generations to become Preparedness Ambassadors. As a former 9-1-1 Emergency Services Dispatcher, Alma also shares how first responders can cope up with personal losses and trauma as they continue to serve the community. Join the conversation and discover ways to strengthen your capacity to serve!

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Highlights:

05:12: A Life-Altering Night

13:52: Helping the Vulnerable Population

25:07: Training Young “Preparedness Ambassadors”

30:06: Acknowledging the Bigger Problems

36:18: Meeting the Needs of the Undocumented Population

44:38: Helping the Senior Population

50:05 Building Capacity

53:04: How to Serve