|  |  | FIU Race, Risk, & Resilience: Building a Local-to-Global “Commons for Justice” |
“Disaster research shows consistently that the poor are hit harder than the better-off, and in the U.S., that often means populations of color.” - Richard Olson, PhD
Consistent with The Mellon Foundation’s emphasis on a Collaboratory approach (co- identification, co-design, and co-production) with local stakeholders and community leaders, FIU created the Florida International University Commons for Justice. The FIU Commons for Justice (FIU-‘CfJ’) strives to build a research-analysis-awareness-voice-solutions program to identify, illustrate, and address the deep racial and ethnic inequities in pre-event disaster exposures and vulnerabilities and in post-event resilience resources and capacities.
The “Commons” serves as a combination of: an open, safe, and supportive space to articulate and exchange findings, views, perspectives, and solution options; and
a set of resources for research and teaching available to, and shared with, neighborhoods and the broader community. The FIU-‘CfJ’ employs its unique Collaboratory method while working with local neighborhoods and community partners.
While the particular geographical focus of the project has been on the region’s north-south “spine of distress” (predominantly neighborhoods and communities of color with strong senses of place and history, but also with profound feelings of distrust, neglect, and alienation), the project has transcended its local arena by exchanging with Caribbean Basin communities and a virtual network (the Global Indigenous Forum), that advocate respect and support for Indigenous populations and minorities worldwide.
| | Community SpotlightCoconut Grove/Little Bahamas |  | | | |  | | | Event RecapSolutions Session: Communicating Hurricane-Related Risks |  | On October 27th, 2023, FIU-‘CfJ’ held a “solution session” which explored strategies for effectively communicating hurricane-related risks. The Collaboratory built upon the previous “solution session” on the effects of rising heat in our communities as well as a presentation by WeCount!.
David Dugard, the FIU-‘CfJ’ Project Director, opened the session by sharing his impactful hurricane experiences as a native of Homestead, Florida. Participants followed this reflection, offering insights into the diverse ways in which individuals and communities cope with hurricanes and their effects. While also sharing experiences regarding the challenges of hurricane preparation and recovery, such as shelters that are non-ADA compliant; the difficulties people with disabilities face in accessing resources and information about an impending hurricane; and the concern that schools that previously served as hurricane shelters for residents are no longer available because they are designated as magnet schools. |
| Community members and FIU students, faculty, and staff from all walks of life and all ages took part in this lively conversation that focused on the preparation, response, and recovery phases (emotional as well as financial) of hurricanes, with the goal of generating actionable ideas and plans to achieve measurable community-specific impact such as ‘Angels in a Backpack’.
As facilitator, Dr. Fredericks-Lowman noted, ”the discussion highlighted the evolving impact of technology on hurricane predictability while emphasizing the persistent influence of socio-economic conditions and location on the irrespective lived experiences.”
Following the “solution session”, participants joined Erik Salna, Associate Director for Education and Outreach, for a tour of FIU Wall of Wind(WoW) facility to learn more about the pre and post effects of hurricanes and the research being applied to mitigate hurricane impacts. |
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| | Transition Fete: “A Call to the Ancestors” |  | | "Transition Fete" was a captivating journey that honored the tapestry of rituals, sounds, and songs of Miami's diverse communities. This marks another memorable event in the ongoing "Call to the Ancestors" exhibition curated by Carl-Phillipe Juste.
At the "Transition Fete”, guests had the opportunity to dance, enjoy delicious food, and engage in meaningful conversations. Additionally, guests immersed themselves in the “Call to the Ancestors" exhibition which honors traditions from Haitian, Central and South American, Caribbean, African American and Native American communities and illustrates stories of loss and displacement due to natural disaster and human-initiated actions through essays, photographs, and art pieces. |
| While celebrating the resilience and unity inherent in cultural and religious practices throughout the Caribbean and present within Miami. Notably, one of the exhibition interactive spaces, the Parlor, offers guests the opportunity to leave a recorded message for their departed loved ones. These messages will be archived and integrated into the exhibition, as it travels to other spaces.
The event's triumph was a testament to the dedication and hard work of Carl-Phillipe Juste and Rebecca Friedman, PhD. In collaboration with Iris PhotoCollective, the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance, FIU’s Wolfsonian Public Humanities Lab and supported by FIU Commons for Justice: Race, Risk, Resilience. |
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| | | Upcoming FIU-’CfJ’ Collaboratory Events |  | Bridge DeconstructionThe installation and series of programming at the Wolfsonian–FIU @1001 Washington Avenue is the public culmination of the year-long project from November 2, 2023–February 4, 2024. | |
|  | FIU-’CfJ’ “solutions session” Join FIU-’CfJ’s next “solutions session” on December 15th at 10AM at the Modesto A. Maidique (MMC) Campus! |
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