Writing for the City of Philadelphia, Olivia N. Gillison, Community Preparedness Program Manager for the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, offers some thoughts and insights into the importance of considering and integrating the Black experience into the field of Emergency Management.
As observed by Gillison, the field of Emergency Management has historically been one which often overlooked minority voices, leading the reinforcement of systemic issues around Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color. With natural disasters becoming more common, engagement of these communities can help to minimize risks and pressures and build resilience.
Gillison also notes several organizations within the field of Emergency Management looking to build this engagement, speaking of the Institute for Diversity and Inclusions in Emergency Management (I-DIEM), and the HERricane Experience program, both of which seek to engage and promote members of underserved communities.
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