Research and Evidence Webinar Series:

1

March 23, 2022

Civic Engagement and 

Climate Change Mitigation

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service
Welcome

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service

2

Melissa Gouge, Ph.D.

Research Analyst, 

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation/ 

AmeriCorps NCCC
Introduction

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service

3

Dana Fisher, Ph.D.

Professor of Sociology and the Director of the 

Program for Society and the Environment, 

University of Maryland
4

Introduction

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service
5

Introduction

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service
6

Introduction

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service
7

Introduction

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service
Speaker

8

Denae King, Ph.D.

Research Program Manager, 

Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland 

School of Public Affairs, 

Texas Southern University

Mar-21 |

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service

Suzanne Pritzker, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and 

Associate Professor,

University of Houston
Research and Evidence Webinar Series: 

March 2022

Experiencing civic engagement 

in an era of natural disasters

9

Suzanne Pritzker, PhD | University of Houston

Denae King, PhD | Texas Southern University
Who we are: Two universities,

partnering with four communities

10
The context or our research: Houston, 

two years after Hurricane Harvey

11

Photo licensed for non-commercial use through Creative Commons

33 trillion gallons of rain

$125 billion in damage

154,000 homes flooded

100+ deaths

75 Houston schools closed 

due to damage

A once-in-1,000-years flood event

175,000 voter registration 

card deliveries affected

Impacted communities still 

working to recover
12

How did this impact 

the way community 

members experience 

civic engagement?
Our approach: Community-based, 

participatory action research 

13

By the community With the community For the community

Co-researchers analyzed 

findings and developed 

recommendations

Co-researchers worked 

alongside university team 

to develop a plan

26 focus groups

190 participants

14 interviews with 

key informants

8 co-researchers

Co-researchers recruited 

participants, and facilitated 

interviews and focus groups

4 communities

5 languages

12 thematic categories 

highlighting challenges 

and opportunities
14

In their words: A lived experience 

of civic engagement in the context 

of Hurricane Harvey
Disaster Prevention 

and Preparation

“We need to 

be prepared, 

because this 

isn’t just a 

one- or two-

time thing”

Disaster Response 

and Short-Term 

Recovery

“Help the 

people who 

are affected 

by the 

disaster”

Long-Term Disaster 

Recovery

“Harvey has 

come and 

gone, and we 

still have 

people who 

are hurting in 

the aftermath 

of it”

15
16

“Houston is not 

prepared for a 

hurricane or storm”

“I mean we need a 

detailed emergency 

plan”

“We need to be prepared, because this isn’t just a one- or two-time thing” 

 “Infrastructure...not built to...protect the 

public”

 “Stop building...we are in a flood zone”

 “Need you to follow through and do what 

you gonna say”

 “a more fast direct way to be prepared as a 

community”

 “provide...information for us like how to 

prevent this”

 “to have more places where we can go”

 “someone to come for us...people who are 

disabled and elderly”

 “we needed access to our medical 

supplies”

Disaster Prevention and Preparation
17

“But it was really, 

really heartbreaking”

“Everybody was 

like helping 

everybody” 

“Help the people who are affected by the disaster” 

 “houses that flooded...were a total loss, it was 

something so sad”

 “we couldn’t get food” 

 “I had high anxiety”

 “participation is spontaneous”

 “people...came by and said...is there anything 

we can do”

 “they want to come and help”

 “go and help with...neighbors”

 “we gotta help our elderly” 

 “has to be some kind of coordination when 

these, these incidents happen”

 “community support as regards Harvey...it’s not 

that much”

Disaster Response and Short-term Recovery

“Coordination was so 

critical after Harvey” 
18

“Depends on the 

leader you’re 

talking about”

“Pass that 

information down”

 “we would pass the word out”

 “we get on the internet”

 “we need help and don’t get information”

 “find someone who spoke both languages so 

they could help” 

 “instruct me as to what I’m doing wrong as to 

the reason I’m not qualifying” 

 “the response...is pretty good”

 “I can’t say if I trust them or not”

 “trust your neighbor before you trust your 

governor”

 “you got to get where they assign you to go or 

you can be fired, fined...”

“Help the people who are affected by the disaster” 

Disaster Response and Short-term Recovery
19

“The urgency is 

gone, or that’s the 

sense”

 “the money, at the end of the day, still wasn’t 

distributed fairly”

 “you know this is nothing but lies...what is they 

doing with the money” 

 “I think I’ve been more involved since Harvey”

 “Harvey would be the...catalyst...for this 

community”

 “back to normal” 

 “community was exactly the same as it was 

before”

“Harvey has come and gone, and we still have people who are hurting in the 

aftermath of it” 

Long-term Disaster Recovery

“Anchored us to 

the community”

“Don’t know where 

the money went”
20

“Why would you live in 

an area your house has 

been flooded eight 

times”

 “we are still suffering from that day, even if a 

lot of years have gone by”

 “Lord, don’t let this water come in. Jesus, not 

this time” 

 “if we have a flooding problem we’re stuck”

 “the neighborhood had been kinda

abandoned” 

“Harvey has come and gone, and we still have people who are hurting in the 

aftermath of it”

Long-term Disaster Recovery

“Lord, don’t let this 

water come in”
21

Photos licensed for non-commercial use through Creative Commons

Memorial Day Flood (2015) 

6,000 structures flooded, 7 deaths

Tax Day Flood (2016) 

9,820 structures flooded, 7 deaths

Hurricane Harvey (2017) 

154,000 homes flooded, 100+ deaths

Tropical Storm Imelda (2019) 

3,990 homes flooded, 5 deaths
22

“When it comes down, I’m standing 

in the dirt praying. It's all you can do.

Lord, don’t let this water come in. 

Jesus, not this time.”

“Why would you live in an 

area your house has been 

flooded eight times?”

“We are still suffering from 

that day, even if a lot of 

years have gone by

“I don't know what else 

I can take on.”

“I think that people, a lot of 

people including the media, 

they just move on.”

“I don't wanna have to leave 

my house, but I don't think I can 

do it no more.”
Meaningful, 

sustainable disaster 

preparation, with 

focus on infrastructure

Intentional planning to 

meet community 

members’ needs

Clear avenues for 

accessible information 

about disaster 

preparedness/recovery 

resources

Increased coordination across 

organizations involved in 

preparation and recovery

Awareness of distrust, 

especially related to resource 

allocation/distribution

Consideration of 

community impacts from 

repeated natural disasters

Recommendations

Several needs emerged from this community-engaged research:

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Speaker

24

Carlos Vazquez Rivera, Ph.D.

Social Community Psychologist

University of Puerto Rico, Humacao 

Mar-21 |

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service

Jacquelinee Rojas Livia, Ph.D.

INARO volunteer

Instituto Internacional de Investigación y 

Acción Comunitaria
PROYECTO INARO

Plan de Acción Comunitario para 

Situaciones de Desastres Socio-naturales
Luz Sánchez Díaz

Líder comunitaria 

Carlos Vázquez Rivera

Investigador Principal

Jacquelinee Rojas Livia

Voluntaria

Alicia Montañez Cruz

Líder comunitaria 

Jennifer Abreu Santana

Líder comunitaria 

Grekchy Meléndez Hernández

Coordinadora

Nilda Cuadra de Jesús

Estudiante 
IAP

1

Integrando la investigación, acción y 

participación
Preguntas de Investigación

¿Cuáles son las características 

comunitarias que inhiben o 

promueven el compromiso y 

participación comunitaria?

¿Cómo es la vinculación 

comunitaria después de una 

experiencia de desastre socionaturales?

Pregunta #1 Pregunta #2
NUESTRA DEFINICIÓN DE IAP

“Un método dirigido a horizontalizar la 

investigación, refortaleciendo a las 

personas involucradas, para generar un 

cambio sobre lo que se investiga” 

(EIC, 2019)
PROCESO DE INTEGRACION

INVESTIGACION

ACCION

PARTICIPACION

• Constitución del EIC

• Implementación (encuestas, entrevistas, 

grupos focales)

• Análisis (codificación, categorización)

• Presentar en diversos foros (comunidad, 

universidad)
RESULTADOS

2

Lo que conocemos 
Grupo de 

personas

Lugar 

Territorio

Sentido de 

pertenencia

Sentido de 

Unión Diversidad

Compartir

Participar

Además• Es donde la gente;

• Se conoce

• Se comunica

• Se interesa por 

los vecinos

• Se hacen familia

• Se ayudan unos 

a otros

• Es una forma de 

ver el mundo que 

se encuentra bajo 

amenaza.

COMUNIDAD

• Feria comunitaria

• Repartición de alimentos

• Vacunación 

• Pruebas COVID-19

• Cartografía social
PARTICIPACION

• Asistir a las actividades

• Tener iniciativa

• Cumplir una función

• Buscar soluciones

• Lograr un cambio

• Hacerse familia

• Desconectarse de la 

tecnología

• Priorizar la comunidad

• Conocer necesidades

• Acto de voluntad

• Ser parte de algo

• Cuidarnos

• Diversos rostros

• Juntarse

• Socializar

¿Qué 

es?

¿Qué 

requiere?

¿Cuándo 

lo 

vemos?

¿Qué 

permite?
Espacios para socializar: 

actividades deportivas, lúdicas, 

festejo, familiares, en los 

sectores.

La confianza entre las personas.

Conocimiento de las necesidades 

comunitarias.

Visitas domiciliarias.

Motivar, animar, invitar.

Refortalecer el Sentido de 

pertenencia.

Falta de transporte público.

Falta de comunicación social.

Barreras intergeneracionales.

Exceso de usos de teléfono y 

tecnologías.

Competencias entre vecinos 

(quién tiene más).

Individualismo.

PROMUEVE

LIMITA

¿QUE LA PROMUEVE O LA LIMITA?

P

A

R

T

I

C

I

P

A

C

I

O

N
PLAN DE ACCION COMUNITARIO

DESPUES

DURANTE

ANTES

• Documento vivo

• Se reorganiza según las 

experiencias y saberes

• Considera el presente, el pasado 

y el futuro

• Articula comunidad, 

participación e investigación

• Desastres socio-naturales

• Nivel del desastre depende del 

nivel de preparación
PLAN DE ACCION COMUNITARIO: PRIMEROS PASOS

Movilización• Reclutar más líderes 

comunitarias

• Aplicar lo que sabemos 

sobre lo que limita y 

promueve la participación

• Concientizar a las 

personas de que los 

desastres socio-naturales 

son parte de nuestras 

vidas

Organización• Brigadas de acción

• Comités de Emergencias 

por sectores 

• Reuniones mensuales

• Reclutar voluntarios por 

cada sector

Comunicación• Actividades de 

preparación 

• Difundir y revisar el Plan 

de Acción

• Crear diversos canales de 

comunicación 

(tradicionales y 

tecnológicos) 

Acciones•Recojido de la basura y reciclaje

•Directorio de organizaciones 

colaboradoras

•Identificar necesidades y recursos 

de cada familia

•Identificar puntos de encuentros

•Identificar personas con mayor 

vulnerabilidad

•Integrar a las autoridades locales

•Realizar un censo comunitario
PLAN DE ACCIÓN COMUNITARIO: 

¿QUE NECESITAMOS?

Capacitaciones• Preparación 

para afrontar 

desastres

• Filtración de 

agua de pozo

• Primeros 

auxilios de 

salud física y 

mental

• Cultivar

• Usar técnicas 

de los abuelos

Equipamiento• Bombas de 

agua

• Lavadoras

• Energia 

renovable

• Infraestructura 

de internet 

satelital 

Suministros• Agua

• Alimentos

• Semillas

• Medicinas

Centro de acopio• Materiales de 

necesidades 

básicas

• Actualizarlo 

periódicamente

• Desarrollar un 

sistema de 

administración 

rotativo
PLAN DE ACCIÓN COMUNITARIO: ¿QUÉ 

RECURSOS TENEMOS?

Reconstruir la cancha 

como espacio de 

encuentro y organización

Una escuela 

abandonada que puede 

servir como refugio
SECCIONES: PLAN DE ACCION COMUNITARIO (PAC)

Coordinación Preparación Aviso

Negocios Medios de 

comunicación Refugios

Evacuación Manejo de 

crisis Búsqueda
SIGUIENTES PASOS PARA EL PAC

Presentación

del PAC a la 

comunidad

Revisión del 

PAC por el EIC

The Sun is the star 

at the center

Devolución 

del PAC a la 

comunidad

Implementar

el PAC
— Comunidad de Montones, 2019 —

“Montones de voluntades, transforman realidades.”
Speaker

42

Jennifer Willett, MSW

Assistant Professor,

University of Nevada, Reno

Mar-21 |

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service
March 2022

Making the Invisible VisibleAddressing Climate Injustice in Northern, NV

2022 | 43

Office of Research and Evaluation (Evaluation@cns.gov)
TEAM:

• Jennifer Willett: University of Nevada, Reno (PI/Director)

• Jennifer Sims: Upward Bound (Community Partner)

• Estefania Caldera (Leader)

• Victoria Gomez (Youth Scientist)

• Bronsen Costello (Youth Scientist)

• Nadia Lopez (Youth Scientist)

• Adan Albarran (Youth Scientist)

• Kevin Munoz (Youth Scientist)

• Najeh Abduljalil (Leader)

• Alejandro Arriaga (Youth Scientist)

• Dayana Valdez (Youth Scientist)

• Rose Barajas (Youth Scientist)

• Karla Avina (Youth Scientist)

2021 | 44

Nevada Research for Change Team
• Hidden environmental injustices and disasters

• Happen to hidden populations (working class, people of 

color, and other hidden people)

• Occur over time

• Small environmental problems create large problems for the 

community

• Not publicized

• Solution: Make the invisible visible to work on them

Slow Violence

Our focus.

45
• All of our research is based in Northern Nevada, including in Reno, Sparks, and Sun Valley.

• Environmental concerns for slow violence

• Climate is fragile and susceptible to climate change impacts like wildfires and floods

• Various mountains and open land used for dumping

• Not environmental regulations

• Social and economic concerns for slow violence

• Minority population in Reno is high (26.4%) and highest in Sun Valley (45%)

• Not enough services to help people in need

• Housing affordability among the lowest in the nation

Northern Nevada Context

46

Environment, population, and demographics.
Our team creates awareness to resolve slow violence. We shine light on 

environmental issues that low income communities face, and discuss 

possible solutions. We believe social justice should be demonstrated in 

our communities.

• Research Questions:

• What the experiences of slow violence in Northern Nevada?

• From the local viewpoint, how best can slow violence be resolved?

In our presentation today, we are going to focus on climate injustice.

Research Objectives and Questions

47
Photovoice

• Youth scientists take pictures of 

climate and environmental 

injustices in their neighborhoods

• Engage in the SHOWeD interview

• What do you SEE here?

• What is really HAPENNING?

• How does this relate to OUR 

lives?

• WHY are things this way?

• What can we DO about it?

Research Processes

48

Secondary sources

• Surveyed community members at 

events about their experiences 

with environmental injustice

• Looked up additional facts and 

talked to people
Finding 1: How climate change impacts 

hidden communities in Northern Nevada

49
Swan Lake flooded an 

elementary school and many 

houses in the area.

Climate Disaster: Flooding

50
Wildfires are dangerous and the smoke 

negatively impacts health.

Climate Disaster: Wildfires

51
Finding 2: How climate change intersects 

with other issues in Northern Nevada

52
Lack of 

infrastructure, like 

drainage systems 

and sidewalks, 

creates dangerous 

situations for 

pedestrians when 

ditches flood from 

climate change.

Climate Change and Infrastructure Needs

53
Concern for working class communities 

who work outside during dangerous air 

days

Climate Change and Working Outside

54
Other Slow Violence Problems We Work On

55

Dumping large items is 

common, and the garbage 

accumulates because services 

are slow to respond

Lack of street lights leads to 

danger for pedestrians, 

including kids walking to school
• Confirmed our photovoice findings

• A majority of respondents were from hidden communities

• 70% were heavily affected by wildfire smoke 

• Impacted health, work, and ability to go outside

• Significant experiences with dumping

• Sits for months and nothing is done about it

• Respondents committed to actions to not dump

Community Survey Results

56
• Most problems are not hidden and unseen by other 

populations but normalized to the point of the invisibility and 

lack of awareness.

• Climate change happens in a multitude of ways other than 

just air pollution. We have found that climate change can be 

amplified by lack of infrastructure in some communities, lack 

of affordable housing support, and weak local regulations.

Our Impact on Theory of Slow Violence

How we look at climate change

57
Our Actions

• Built relationships with supporters and groups we wanted to support

• Presented to the community, teachers, and librarians

• Spoke at public events

• Met with Governor’s staff and spoke at Governor listening tours

• Met with local government officials including the General 

Improvement District, School Board, and Sheriff’s Office

• Raised money and donations for homeless youth 

• Organized and distributed survival kits to local homeless populations

58
NCCC team was canceled during the first 

months of COVID

• Re-establish team to support NCCC grant 

and project

• Bring NCCC team to the area to work on 

issues

• Organize community clean-up day

• Build infrastructure like sidewalks

Next Steps for AmeriCorps Partnership

59

The local government in Sun Valley 

suggested this sidewalk, which goes to a 

school, as a pilot for a NCCC team.
• Slow violence and climate injustice are affecting Reno 

communities.

• AmeriCorps can make a difference in these impacts through 

supporting community-identified next solutions.

• We can also make an impact by focusing on resolving 

climate change.

• Thank you! From the Research for Change Team!

Conclusion and Thank You

60
Reflections

61

Shane Dermanjian, M.S.

AmeriCorps 

Office of Research and Evaluation

Mar-21 |

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service
62

From Service to Research

Shane Dermanjian – Research Assistant

AmeriCorps Office of 

Research and Evaluation 
Superstorm Sandy 

hits New Jersey

2012 – 2016

Undergrad 

coursework on 

climate change

2016 – 2017

First AmeriCorps 

term, 

environmental 

stewardship

2017 – 2018

Second 

AmeriCorps term, 

disaster recovery

2018 – 2020

Graduate school, 

studying public 

policy

2019 – Today

Work at 

AmeriCorps Office 

of Research and 

Evaluation

From Service to Research

63

My progression 

October 2012
• Plunged me into acutely caring about the 

environment around me

• Felt like I had to do something about this, it was 

existential... but then I didn’t

• While in college, I learned about how rising sea 

levels and climate change pose unique dangers to 

my home state of NJ

October 2012: Superstorm Sandy 

made me start paying attention

64

Seaside Heights, NJ

(Wikimedia Commons)
Conservation • Shellfish propagation • Fire fuel reduction • Trail and herring run 

maintenance

Environmental 

education • Elementary school 

presentations

• General community 

presentations

September 2016 – July 2017:

AmeriCorps Cape Cod

65

Program 

outreach/volunteer 

events • Annual cleanup days • National Volunteer 

Week

• MLK Jr. Day of Service
Home reconstruction • Gutting • Framing/hanging 

drywall/taping

• Flooring/tile • Insulation • Finish carpentry • Painting • Installing flood vents

September 2017 – July 2018:

SBP New Jersey

66

Volunteer 

management • Ensuring workplace 

safety i.e. with power 

tools, ladders, etc.

• Teaching volunteers 

how to do 

construction tasks
The intersection of climate 

change and my service:

realizing climate change 

will make the need for 

everything I just did all the 

greater

67
So... what are we going to do 

about it?

• How do more people get exposed to 

environmental issues, so they also comprehend 

the importance of these topics?

• How do we prepare our communities for the 

worst to come? 

The answer: through AmeriCorps

68

Truro, Cape Cod, MA – May 2018

(my photo)
Exposure + Service + 

Interest in Public Policy =

me working in research at 

AmeriCorps

69

Thanks! 

Contact: sdermanjian@cns.gov
Reflections

70

Laura Schlachter, Ph.D.

Researcher,

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Mar-21 |

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: 

Exploring Opportunities at the Intersection of Research, 

Community Participation, and National Service
71

Research and Evidence Webinar Series:

Civic Engagement and Climate Change Mitigation: Exploring Opportunities at the 

Intersection of Research, Community Participation, and National Service

Speakers

Dana Fisher, Ph.D.: drfisher@umd.edu

Denae King, Ph.D.: kingdw@tsu.edu

Suzanne Pritzker, Ph.D.: spritzke@central.uh.edu

Carlos Vazquez Rivera, Ph.D.: Carlos.vazquez5@upr.edu

Jennifer Willett, Ph.D.: jenniferwillett@unr.edu

Shane Dermanjian, M.S.: lschachter@cns.gov

Laura Schlachter, Ph.D.: lschachter@cns.gov

Thank You!

• The webinar slides, recording, and transcript are 

available on our Impact Webinars page. 

Spanish captions are available.

• Visit: https://americorps.gov/about/ourimpact/webinars for past webinars 

• For more information on AmeriCorps Research 

and Evaluation: evaluation@cns.gov.