Children assist in humanitarian assistance carried out by the Indonesian National Police after the Mount Semeru eruption disaster in Lumajang, Indonesia. Source: Muhammad Solikin / Shutterstock.com.
This article by Holguin was first published on March 26, 2026 by the Institute of Behavioral Science.
Lori Peek, director of the Natural Hazards Center and professor of sociology at the University of Colorado Boulder, will present the next installment of the Institute of Behavioral Science Public Lecture Series. Peek, an internationally recognized expert on children and disasters, will give her talk, “Beyond Vulnerable Victims: How Kids Can Help During Disasters,” on April 22 from 6–7 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 22 Time: 6 – 7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) Location: 1440 15th St, Boulder CO Room 155
Light refreshments available after the lecture, RSVP required.
About the Talk: In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a familiar narrative took hold: children were among the most vulnerable. While their schools closed and routines were disrupted, a quieter story also emerged—one that challenges how we think about children in times of crisis. Rather than remaining passive recipients of care, many young people stepped forward as helpers, problem-solvers and advocates for others. This talk draws on Peek’s research to explore children’s contributions during the pandemic and across a range of disaster contexts.
“I hope that audience members will leave this talk knowing that children are increasingly at risk to disasters, but they are also imminently capable," Peek said. "Children can, and do, help in enormous ways to help ready themselves, their families, and their communities for worst case scenarios.”