About the Project
The Mellon grant, local-to-global Florida International University “Commons for Justice Race, Risk, and Resilience (FIU-‘CfJ’) exists to embody a Collaboratory approach (co-identification, co-design, and co-production) with local stakeholders and community leaders. FIU-‘CfJ’ consists of 11 components that strive to identify, illustrate, and address the deep racial and ethnic inequities in pre-event disaster exposures and vulnerabilities and in post-event resilience resources and capacities.
“Disaster research shows consistently that the poor are hit harder than the better-off, and in the U.S., that often means populations of color. We are seeing that again with this pandemic, with our vulnerable populations taking disproportionate losses. We must openly admit, detail and honestly address the problem. Our Commons for Justice project will do exactly that.” — Dr. Richard Olson
University-Community Voices
A prime example of race, risk and resilience is the story of “West Grove,” a minority community fighting to maintain its existence since the late 1800s. How do you eradicate the effects of multiple forces attributing to your socioeconomic circumstances simultaneously? Loss of affordable housing, health disparities, food insecurities, inadequate transportation, and a world-wide pandemic. “FIGHTING FORWARD”
—Carolyn Donaldson, Vice Chair of Grove Rights and Community Equity Inc. (GRACE)
A prime example of race, risk and resilience is the story of “West Grove,” a minority community fighting to maintain its existence since the late 1800s. How do you eradicate the effects of multiple forces attributing to your socioeconomic circumstances simultaneously? Loss of affordable housing, health disparities, food insecurities, inadequate transportation, and a world-wide pandemic. “FIGHTING FORWARD”
—Carolyn Donaldson, Vice Chair of Grove Rights and Community Equity Inc. (GRACE)
Agricultural workers in South Dade are essential to our collective resilience and survival. Workers keep our land productive, grow the food we all eat, and make the plants that breathe life into our ecosystem. Yet, their own survival is at growing risk due to labor exploitation, housing displacement, and climate crises. With the support of FIU and Commons for Justice, WeCount! is working to change this through organizing, worker-driven storytelling, and policy innovation.
—Oscar Londoño, Co-Executive Director of WeCount!
Agricultural workers in South Dade are essential to our collective resilience and survival. Workers keep our land productive, grow the food we all eat, and make the plants that breathe life into our ecosystem. Yet, their own survival is at growing risk due to labor exploitation, housing displacement, and climate crises. With the support of FIU and Commons for Justice, WeCount! is working to change this through organizing, worker-driven storytelling, and policy innovation.
—Oscar Londoño, Co-Executive Director of WeCount!
Our communities are on the frontlines of climate change, face historic and persistent disinvestment, and continue to be excluded from opportunities to build wealth or participate in democratic processes. We face a shared struggle to withstand these pressures, retain our unique identity, and become a more just community where everyone can thrive. This is why Catalyst Miami’s work centers on providing paths to both individual and shared prosperity, enhancing civic engagement through advocacy and leadership development, and strengthening our environment and communities through people-led strategies. We are so grateful to have the partnership of Florida International University and the wider collaborative in these efforts.
—Zelalem Adefris, CEO of Catalyst Miami
Our communities are on the frontlines of climate change, face historic and persistent disinvestment, and continue to be excluded from opportunities to build wealth or participate in democratic processes. We face a shared struggle to withstand these pressures, retain our unique identity, and become a more just community where everyone can thrive. This is why Catalyst Miami’s work centers on providing paths to both individual and shared prosperity, enhancing civic engagement through advocacy and leadership development, and strengthening our environment and communities through people-led strategies. We are so grateful to have the partnership of Florida International University and the wider collaborative in these efforts.
—Zelalem Adefris, CEO of Catalyst Miami
