CALE – Disaster Recovery and Economic Opportunity for Whom? Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria

Community Adaptation Learning Exchange – July 28, 2022

Disaster Recovery and Economic Opportunity for Whom? Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: This session reflects on key lessons on the relationship between social equity, community livability, and climate adaptation. Speakers and participants explored on-the-ground community development efforts in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria (2017) up to today and structural, political, and other barriers to equitable post-disaster recovery.

Speakers:
Alejandra Castrodad-Rodríguez is the Executive Director of RPPR. She has more than 15 years of experience partnering community-based, nonprofit and government institutions to develop local economic empowerment strategies. As a policy advisor, she has led multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral teams focused on reducing inequity and exposure to risk. She was the Chief Resilience Officer for the city of San Juan under the 100 Resilient Cities Program, the Task Force Lead for Puerto Rico’s National Disaster Resilience Competition (HUD-CDBG DR), and Deputy Advisor to the Governor’s Office for the Development of Vieques and Culebra. As a consultant, she has worked with OXFAM-America, ACACIA Network, and Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico.

Francisco J. Rodriguez-Fraticelli is the Executive Director of Coalición de Coaliciones Pro Personas Sin Hogar, which he founded in 2003. Coalición de Coaliciones is a non-profit entity providing direct services throughout the 54 municipalities of Puerto Rico. The organization is committed to improving quality of life for the unhoused and other vulnerable persons, applying evidence-based practices, and advocating for their right to live a healthy life, in full enjoyment of their dignity. Coalición de Coaliciones is composed of a network of service providers, including but not limited to case managers, social workers, housing location services, and medication-assisted treatment for conditions associated with substance abuse and behavioral health.

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