We are excited to announce the release of a comprehensive report on building community capacity for climate resilience in North Carolina. The Conservation Trust of North Carolina (CTNC) commissioned a study in fall 2022 to gather information and input on the role service programs might play in building community capacity around climate resilience. With funding from VolunteerNC, CTNC contracted with Farallon Strategies to better understand the opportunities of service programs in the state.
North Carolina has seen a surge in climate-related challenges, such as hurricanes, floods, mudslides, heatwaves, and droughts. While the state has made significant investments to build resilience against these challenges, local community capacity remains a constraint. To tackle this issue, our team at Farallon Strategies supported CTNC in conducting extensive surveys, interviews, and focus groups across the state to understand the potential for service programs – like AmeriCorps, conservation corps, and other service-oriented programs – to assist communities in leveraging climate resilience investments.
Over the course of this study, the Project Team:
- Collected over 100 survey responses, from individuals representing federal, state and local governments, nonprofits, and academic institutions
- Completed 25 one-on-one calls with select representatives of local governments, nonprofits, state agencies, and existing service programs
- Held four group conversations with 36 individuals organized by common interests
The study’s findings indicate that existing and new service programs are well-positioned to play a vital role in helping communities address climate resilience. However, to realize this potential, service programs in North Carolina must expand and transform. The findings lay the foundation for CTNC’s recommendation to create a North Carolina Resilience Service Network. We encourage you to read more about CTNC’s study and resulting recommendations.
Image Credit: Image provided by Conservation Trust for North Carolina
