Disaster Risk Reduction From the Heart
Plenary Session
Tuesday, June 16, 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MDT
Location: Interlocken A/B
Environmental education can be a powerful way to engage a more diverse coalition of people of all ages in disaster risk reduction work. This plenary will draw inspiration from the success of the Hazard Education, Awareness, and Resilience Task (HEART) Force, a Colorado program that engages rural middle and high school students, teachers, emergency managers, and community members to take proactive steps in preparing for and responding to natural hazards. This award-winning program—led by the University of Colorado’s Center for Education, Engagement, and Evaluation and supported by NOAA’s Office of Education—aims to empower youth through innovative K-12 curriculum, role-playing games, and student-led community events. Speakers will describe the theory of change that guided the program’s development and share lessons on how to form novel coalitions that increase youth agency and community efficacy in risk reduction efforts.
