Black Resilience Network
The mission of the Black Resilience Network is to catalyze leadership development, collaboration, and investments so Black towns, communities, and organizations can successfully play their vital roles in the climate and disaster resilience ecosystem. Next Leadership Development convenes the network and serves as its fiscal sponsor.
Join the NetworkBring Rooted in Resilience to your community
Racism is a man-made disaster that steadily and stealthily ravages Black communities, overwhelming individual and collective capacity. Many people in Black communities live in a perpetual state of crisis because of the compounding nature of historical and present-day racism. When disasters occur, Black communities face three things at once: the ongoing impacts of racism, the disaster itself, and the ways racism disrupts response and recovery.
However, we are not helpless victims. We have a long history of resilience: being able to navigate the world as it is while we work to transform it into the world we all deserve. The network strengthens:
Expressions of power adapted from Jo Rowlands and the Powercube.
We support Black communities to plan and build Community Resilience Hubs led by the people who live there.
When disasters hit Black communities, we share information, identify unmet needs, connect resources, and coordinate advocacy alongside organizations on the ground, from Massachusetts to California.
We plan and organize monthly, collaborate regularly, and collectively care and act always.
We uphold just practices that center the power and humanity of Black people across the African diaspora, while respecting the unique experiences of African Americans.
We center collective care because it is the most sustainable path forward.
We accomplish more together, so we collaborate across working groups, members, and supporters.
Our work for the health and wealth of Black people is tied to the collective liberation of all oppressed peoples.
Historic & Cultural Preservation · Disaster Mitigation & Preparedness · Disaster Response & Recovery · Disaster Workforce & Business Development
2026 represents 500 years of African Americans fighting for their freedom in the U.S., the same year the U.S. celebrates 250 years of independence. Our Rooted in Resilience series honors that moment by gathering communities to build long-term resilience, starting in Asheville and continuing at Brookings.
See the seriesRead our stories
The network brings together organizers, nonprofits, purpose-driven businesses, researchers, and public servants who support each other and communities across the U.S.
Join the NetworkBring Rooted in Resilience to your community
Gifts to the Black Resilience Network help members travel to the tables where decisions are made and support Community Hubs on the ground.
Stories, invitations, and ways to act for health, wealth, and cultural resilience in Black communities, in Boston and across the country.
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Next Leadership Development Corporation is a nonprofit organization.