Latest news with #communityresilience
BBC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Bradford-on-Avon 'not being abandoned' after £11m scheme u-turn
The Environment Agency says it is not abandoning town hit by heavy flooding after scrapping a proposed £11m defence in Wiltshire, was badly flooded in January 2024 before being devastated by Storm Bert in agency said a permanent £11m flood scheme for the town is now "unviable", adding it is committed to "community resilience and better flood warning".Ian Withers, the Environment Agency's area director for Wessex, said: "It would be irresponsible to spend that kind of money that wouldn't necessarily protect the town from the sort of flooding we've seen in the last two years." The River Avon has burst in banks in Bradford-on-Avon on numerous occasions in recent years, flooding nearby roads and Withers added the threat of a flood is "tripled" there because:It has a "huge catchment which drains through the town","Huge volume of water which goes underground, that floods properties from the grounds upwards",And town is in a "steep-sided bowl".The agency said it has ruled out the planned permanent flood scheme, which involved low walls and pumping stations, as prospective costs have more than doubled since it was proposed in 2017. Mr Withers said the "impact of climate change" has also caused the agency to re-think its plans."Originally the plan was valid for the sort of weather we were having associated with the climate, before we started seeing the impact of climate change."Now we know the river can run through that town at the volume, speed and height that it does – we've seen it every winter for the last two of three years – the game's changed. We need to modernise our thinking and put in place a better system."He added: "We're absolutely not abandoning the town or walking away." On Monday hundreds of people attended a special event held to provide information on how to protect homes and businesses from flooding in event was organised by the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Wessex Water.
CNA
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Artist & Actor Chen Xi: Exploring Mental Wellness Through Art
CNA938 Rewind - Artist & Actor Chen Xi: Exploring Mental Wellness Through Art In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro finds out where people can go to see a free interactive art exhibition that nurtures mental wellness. Staged at SCAPE's grovve counselling area, the exhibition is titled 'Lost To Be Found'. It uses art to start conversations around mental wellbeing, with the message: 'It's okay to not be okay.' Local actor and artist Chen Xi will talk about how he collaborated with electricity retailer Geneco to produce six original black-and-white illustrations – with the goal of focusing on community resilience and supporting the next generation.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local residents reimagine their communities
ASHTABULA — The Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition hosted a Reimagining Communities event Tuesday at the YMCA of Ashtabula County. The event brought various community members together to discuss how to work within their communities to deal with issues related to climate change and crisis. 'This is a way for us to talk with the community about climate change and about resilience,' NEOBHC Executive Director Yvonka Hall said. 'Basically, we want to know what kind of pieces have been put in place for the community in times of crisis. So, what are some of the things that are going on in their communities that they can tell us about?' Hall said the NEOBHC is looking for what kinds of issues communities are dealing with more often because of climate change, like flooding, and where people go in times of crisis, like their local church or community center. 'For us, the bigger part of this work is marking sure we have this whole thing around community involvement and engagement,' she said. NEOBHC was also interested in hearing about other environmental issues, like complications from air pollution, that are affecting communities of concern. 'It can be Black communities. It can be white communities. It can be Hispanic and Latino communities,' she said. 'It is community members that are living in areas that have been destabilized because of the industries that are there.' Attendees heard presentations from the Ohio State University's Center for Health Outcomes and Police Evaluation Studies. 'We do this whole educational piece, because that's part of these conversations is the education,' Hall said. 'The other part is for them to educate us.' Many local community leaders were at the event, including from local churches and the local chapter of the NAACP. NEOBHC gave out air purifiers to attendees toward the end of the event. The Reimagining Communities event is the third of several the organization is hosting in Northeast Ohio, with events recently happening in Lake and Cuyahoga counties. NEOBHC Finance Director Zina Hempstead said the project is is being funded through a $1.3 million Climate Resilience Regional Challenge Grant from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, which runs from October 2024 to September 2027. Hall said information from the events will be compiled into a report the organization hopes to have out in early 2026. The NEOBHC is no stranger to county events, hosting one about asthma last year. 'In Northeast Ohio over these last few years, we've had a higher incidence of asthma, particularly in young children,' Hall said. 'We have had a number of young children who have died from asthma attacks.' Many of those children come from poorer and nonwhite communities, Hall said. 'African American children are about 14 times more likely to die from an asthma-related incident than their white counterparts,' she said. Hall has dedicated much of her life to community outreach, she said. 'I started off doing HIV work 31 years ago,' she said. 'I've also done harm reduction around syringe exchange and harm reduction programs.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
News-Press NOW joins NOAA's 'Weather Ready Nation'
ST. JOSEPH. Mo. (News-Press NOW) — News-Press NOW's Stormtracker Weather Team is your Weather Ready Nation Ambassador! The Weather Ready Nation Ambassador program is designed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to strengthen partnerships with external organizations toward building community resilience in the face of increasing vulnerability to extreme weather, climate, and water events. Johnathan Kurtz, the warning coordination meteorologist at the NWS in Kansas City, explains that this program helps bridge the communication gap between broadcast meteorologist, the National Weather Service and vulnerable populations in our community. Over the last few years, News-Press NOW has stayed committed to keeping Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas Weather Ready through weekly Weather Wise segments, annual Severe Weather Preparedness Week specials as well as community outreach aimed at severe weather and safety education through local programs like Safety Town and Safety Acres. We also use the value of our daily forecasts in tracking threats for severe or impactful weather across Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas. Through this program, News-Press NOW aims to help make the community ready, responsive and resilient to extreme events. We also aim to inform and empower communities, businesses and people to be better informed and make life-saving decisions that may also prevent or limit devastating economic losses. To learn more about the Weather Ready Nation program, go to
Fast Company
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
How libraries are becoming launchpads for music careers
In an era dominated by artificial intelligence and smartphones, one of the most overlooked engines of economic growth sits quietly at the heart of every neighborhood: the public library. Gone are the days when libraries were sanctuaries reserved for only reading and research. Today, they are being reimagined as dynamic hubs for workforce development, creative sector support, and cultural exchange. Across the country, these reservoirs of knowledge are evolving into digital and physical beacons of community resilience. Local access, global reach: A case study in artist empowerment In Huntsville, where I serve as the city's first music officer, we've partnered with our public library system to develop a multifunctional creative hub—with music at its core. A primary pillar of our collaboration is Blast Music, a digital streaming platform designed to showcase local talent. It's a model other cities can and should replicate. Through the Blast program, artists are paid, promoted, and added to a curated library collection—offering not only exposure, but bona fide industry credentials. Over 100 local artists are currently featured on the platform, and we will welcome up to 50 additional artists into the program annually. The ripple effect of Blast is real. The free service empowers local listeners to discover homegrown talent while giving musicians tools to grow their fan base and attract industry attention. Perhaps most importantly, Blast provides emerging artists with resume-worthy recognition—essential for building sustainable careers in a tough industry. But Blast isn't just about digital reach—it's embedded in Huntsville's cultural DNA. From artist showcases like the Ladies of Blast event at the Orion Amphitheater, to community events like Hear to Be Seen (a portrait exhibition of Blast musicians), to stages designated exclusively for Blast artist performances at Camp to Amp, PorchFest, and more, Blast is bringing music into public spaces and cultivating civic pride. That's the kind of community infrastructure that libraries are uniquely equipped to deliver. There's no such thing as too much visibility, and even artists with international acclaim see value in the platform. Huntsville native Kim Tibbs, a vocalist, songwriter, Alabama Music Hall of Fame honoree and UK chart-topper, submitted her album The Science of Completion Volume I to Blast—not only for more exposure, but to mentor and support the next generation of artists in her hometown. Libraries as talent incubators Huntsville is part of a broader national trend. In cities like Chicago, Nashville, and Austin, libraries are integrating creative labs, media production studios, and music education into their core services—functioning as public-sector incubators for the creative economy. As technology continues to reshape traditional jobs, libraries are well-positioned to bridge skill gaps and fuel the rise of creative economies, including the vital but often overlooked non-performance roles in the music industry. Huntsville is doubling down on this approach. We're investing millions into programs that bring interactive music technology workshops to teens at the local library—focusing on hands-on training in production, recording, and audio engineering. With professional equipment, studio spaces, and expert instruction, we're preparing the next generation for careers both onstage and behind the scenes. Local industry is stepping up too. Hear Technologies, a global leader in sound and AV production, has been designing cutting-edge audio devices for years. They're now part of a dynamic team collaborating with city leaders to help develop the library's music maker space, nurture new talent and accelerate our region's creative growth. This matters now, more than ever Libraries have always been entry points for education, employment, and exploration. But today, they're more than just information access points—they are gateways to opportunity and launchpads for industries that define the future. By utilizing public space and collaborating with local talent, libraries can become platforms for economic mobility and cultural innovation. This investment isn't a feel-good gesture. It's a smart, strategic move for any city building a future that works—for everyone. The playlist is simple: Invest in creative ecosystems, embed them in trusted community institutions like public libraries, and treat music as critical infrastructure.
