Coalition for the UN We Need, Global Virtual Town Hall Meeting, June 22

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

11:00 am to 1:30 pm EDT (GMT-4)

With a view to determining priorities for the Coalition for the UN We Need (C4UN) ahead of the UN75 Secretary-General’s report (expected by September 2021), this Global Town Hall (GTH) meeting will:

• Provide updates on the Secretary-General’s “Our Common Agenda” process, including the recently concluded “We the Peoples” digital consultation
• Review outcomes and UN reform recommendations from the Post-UN75 series of expert roundtable dialogues
• Hear reports from five civil society consultations that each assess ways the UN can better deliver on the 12 UN75 commitment areas, according to priority issues identified in each region.  

These GTH discussions are preparatory to the next C4UN People’s Forum in October 2021.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Dtpls0eeS1ChJNRjNFUyvA

Coalition for the UN We Need, Africa Regional Virtual Meeting, June 21

Monday, June 21, 2021

4pm East Africa (GMT+3) / 3pm Central & Southern Africa (GMT+2) / 2pm West Africa (GMT+1)

The Africa meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 21. Following a presentation by the keynote speaker breakout sessions at the meeting will focus on (1) Sustainable Development and Climate Action, (2) Peace & Security and Humanitarian Action, (3) Democratic Governance and (4) Human Rights and the Rule of Law. Each group will examine relevant commitments from the UN75 Declaration and discuss what more the UN could be doing to better fulfill these commitments.

Meeting co-sponsors include: the Panafrican Climate Justice Alliance, the Nigeria Network of NGOs, Voices In the Vision for Africa and the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pdOGgpz0iGtHDl1VYJU4_VmCYhbbBJwrt

Coalition for the UN We Need, Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Virtual Meeting, June 18

Friday, June 18 2021

12:00 to 1:30pm EDT (GMT-4)

Latin America and Caribbean regional stakeholders are invited to meet on June 18 2021, from 12:00 to 1:30 EDT (Santiago, New York) to discuss and contribute to the global process of identifying the key challenges for the multilateral system and concrete recommendations for a rejuvenated and inclusive United Nations. The keynote speaker at this event will be Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former foreign minister of Ecuador and President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Meeting co-sponsor include: Club de Madrid, the Group of Women Leaders for Change and Inclusion, Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) and Centro de Pensamiento Estratégico Internacional (CEPEI). Simultaneous translation between Spanish and English will be available at this meeting.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqduyppzguGNX_yPJRgjN3RtqBTCCYsPoV

Coalition for the UN We Need, Europe and North America Regional Virtual Meeting, June 17

Thursday, June 17, 2021

4pm CEST (GMT+2)

This meeting takes place Thursday June 17 at 4:00 pm CEST. The keynote speaker will be Richard Kinley, former Deputy Executive Secretary at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat and current President of FOGGS, the Foundation for Global Governance and Sustainability. Following Kinley’s remarks, breakout sessions will gather feedback on how the UN could better fulfil some of the UN75 Declaration commitments, including: We will protect the planet; We will abide by international law and ensure justice; We will improve digital cooperation; We will upgrade the United Nations: and We will ensure sustainable financing.

Meeting co-sponsors include:  European Horizons, FOGGS, Global Governance Forum, Leiden University – Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs and Together First.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsdeqrrz0oGNdQJicUvvVYcbbH8GiJrFzJ

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in TLH Symposium, June 21

Monday, June 21

10am-12pm ET

Local nonprofit leaders from the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA), Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE), and United Partners for Human Services (UPHS) will host a virtual symposium about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Tallahassee and the surrounding community. The virtual event will include vivid and candid conversation about racial injustice, discrimination, and overall equality.

Participants will register to participate in the full symposium that includes breakout groups, panel discussion and Q&A opportunities. The online event is free and open to the public.

The keynote speaker will be Mariama Boney, President and CEO of Achieve More, LLC, a small woman and minority-owned consultancy. As a facilitator of organizational transitions, Mariama empowers individuals to move through discomfort so they can find shared purpose and create frameworks for constructive dialogue and action planning.

As an active volunteer leader and alumnus of the ASAE Diversity Executive Leadership Program (2008-09), Mariama has served in several leadership roles for associations, non-profit, and alumni groups. She is the author of “VENT: I’m Worth It: A Journey to Refocus, Realign and Restore” and “VENT: I’m Worth It: Leadership Edition.”

About the Non-Profit Partners: COCA, INIE, and UPHS are Tallahassee-based nonprofit organizations focused on strengthening and amplifying the sector’s voice through advocacy, education, community engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

Keynote Theme: It’s Time Y’all: Transforming Community through DEI

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PfatU6QRRceVE70ad3UFxQ?fbclid=IwAR01Jq7-cCXtumhTJx-EsnQVGg8jE_Qxk1XAnOhkgulbCEkLwxNNp7VE5-U

Hurricane Relief Responders Research Survey

Laura Rohm is searching for hurricane relief responders for participation in her dissertation research study.

If you have participated in hurricane or flood first response across the Gulf Coast, please check out this survey! She is looking for a range of responders including, but not limited to, emergency and disaster managers, emergency medical services, police officers, fire fighters, volunteers (i.e., Red Cross, Cajun Navy), department of transportation workers, power workers, and disaster mental health workers!

Participants must be at least 18 years or older in order to participate in this study. In addition, participants must have at least an 8th grade reading level, have the ability to read, have access to a device with internet to complete the survey, and speak English. Individuals may not complete the survey if they have self-reported cognitive deficits or are currently incarcerated.

The survey should take no longer than 25 minutes, and you will have the chance to win one of (3) $25 Amazon e-gift cards if you choose to join the raffle!”

Here’s the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rohmdissertationsurvey

FEMA Announces Funding Opportunity for High-Hazard Dams

FEMA announced $12 million in funding is available for non-federal dams to reduce dam risk, increase community preparedness and provide flood protection.

The annual funding is part of the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams grant program for fiscal year 2021. The application period will close June 25.

In a state or territory with an enacted dam safety program, the state administrative agency, or an equivalent state agency, is eligible to apply for the grant.  Each eligible state may submit only one grant application. Eligible subrecipients, including local governments and nonprofit organizations, are encouraged to review the notice of funding opportunity announcement on Grants.gov.

Email the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams grant program with comments or questions. For more information about the grant or general program information, visit the Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams grant program or the National Dam Safety Program webpages on FEMA.gov.

FEMA announces funding for regional preparedness grants

FEMA released the funding notice for the fiscal year 2021 Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program. The application period will close at 5:00 p.m. EDT on July 16. The program provides $12 million to eligible states and local governments to close known preparedness capability gaps, encourage innovative regional solutions to issues related to catastrophic incidents and build on existing regional preparedness efforts, including pandemic preparedness. The purpose of the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program is to improve and expand collaboration to build regional capacity to manage catastrophic incidents. Applicants are encouraged to consider the needs of underserved and socially vulnerable populations and to involve representatives from the affected communities in the proposed project to ensure their needs are sufficiently addressed. Awards will be made on a competitive basis to applicants who present an ability to successfully meet the requirements described in the funding notice. Applicant submissions must be made on grants.gov.

FEMA releases shelter-in-place guidance

FEMA released shelter-in-place pictogram guidance for 10 hazards and three building types. The pictograms provide clear, visual guidance to the public on shelter-in-place actions, classified by hazard and building type, to ensure the public takes effective protective actions when instructed to shelter-in-place during emergencies. The guidance provides recommended interior locations for specific hazards, additional actions for protection, and the recommended duration for staying sheltered-in-place. The ten hazards are: active shooter, chemical hazard, earthquake, flooding/flash flooding, hurricane, nuclear/radiological hazards, pandemic, thunderstorm, tornado, and winter storm. The three types of buildings are: manufactured or mobile home; one- or two-story buildings; multistory buildings. The shelter-in-place pictograms can be used by community partners in multiple communication channels, such as posters, websites, just-in-time social media posts and emergency managers for Integrated Public Alert & Warning System messages.

Disney Institute Joins FEMA on COVID-19 Response

FEMA and the Disney Institute recently kicked off a training program for FEMA employees and other federal personnel who will be working at COVID-19 community vaccination centers across the country. 

“We have been working closely with our federal, state and local partners to make vaccines available to every person that wants one,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “We’re appreciative of the opportunity to collaborate with the Disney Institute and receive additional training that will enhance our customer service at federally-supported vaccination sites.  We are grateful for the support of The Walt Disney Company.” 

FEMA has been providing federal support to community vaccination centers, including supplemental vaccine allocation to pilot sites. Additionally, mobile vaccination units are deployed to support states and the Indian Health Service. The federal community vaccination center pilot sites have administered more than 5.5 million vaccinations. The mobile units have administered more than 48,000 vaccinations. 

“Disney is honored to collaborate with FEMA by sharing best practices of our legendary guest service with those working at federal vaccination sites nationwide,” said Disney Parks President of Segment Development and Enrichment, Experiences and Products George A. Kalogridis. “This collaboration is part of our company’s broader work to support vaccination efforts.”

The Muppets have also joined the response by releasing a PSA encouraging everyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine.  

As more Americans receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the end of the pandemic and a return to normal life is in sight. Those interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can visit vaccines.gov to find a location. You can also text your zip code to 438829 to receive a text with the closest COVID-19 vaccine location.