The FEMA Civil Rights Summit – 4.0 Advancing Environmental Justice

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The FEMA Civil Rights Summit – 4.0 Advancing Environmental Justice is designed to foster dialogue and partnerships through direct engagement with FEMA. Presentations and discussion will cover FEMA programs and services, with special emphasis on understanding civil rights concerns within communities.

Date: November 1, 2023 - November 2, 2023

Time: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location: Virtual

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Event Details

This year’s summit will continue the conversations from prior Civil Rights Summits, which focused on civil rights topics, including environmental justice, accessibility, and equity. The primary goal of the event is to foster dialogue and partnerships through engagement with members of the public, advocates, community allies, and civil rights organizations, as well as FEMA’s state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners. There will be an emphasis on the impact of environmental issues on protected groups, intersectionality, and initiatives to incorporate and support environmental justice within emergency management.

This event will be presented in English and translated into Spanish, with captioning and Sign Language Interpretation provided for each.

Event Agenda

Day 1 

November 1, 2023, Noon to 5 p.m. ET

TIMEPRESENTATIONSPEAKERS
NoonSummit IntroductionNodi Solutions, Moderator Emily Fannon
12:05 p.m. WelcomeFEMA, Office of Equal Rights, Director Leslie Saucedo
12:10 p.m.FEMA Leadership Opening Remarks    FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell
12:25 p.m.Session #1: External Civil Rights and Environmental JusticeEPA, Office of General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel for Environmental Initiatives Marianne Engelman-Lado 
1:15 p.m.Session #2: Disability Integration in Environmental Justice InitiativesFEMA, Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, Director Sherman Gillums, Jr.
1:55 p.m.Session #3: The Social Inequities of Climate Events      Rice University, Professor and Chair of Sociology, James R. Elliott
2:50 p.m.Session #4: Environmental Justice and Disasters DOJ, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Attorney Advisor Selin Cherian-Rivers

3:45 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Session #5: Environmental Justice and Housing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moderator: FEMA, Office of Equal Rights, External Civil Rights Division Director Kenneth D. Johnson 

Moderator: FEMA, Office of Equal Rights, External Civil Rights Compliance Unit Chief Marlene Johnson-Moore 

FEMA, Office of Environmental and Historic Preservation, Assistant Administrator Donna Defrancesco 

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Program Analyst Megan Nibley 

USDA, Rural Development, Administrator of Rural Housing Service Joaquin Altoro 

FEMA, Region 4 Hazard Mitigation, Floodplain Management Supervisory Program Analyst Pier Janrhett

FEMA, Individual Assistance Division, Deputy Director Zachary Usher

4:55 p.m.Day-One Wrap-UpFEMA, Office of Equal Rights, External Civil Rights Division Director Kenneth D. Johnson 

Day 2

November 2, 2023, Noon to 5 p.m. ET

TIMEPRESENTATIONSPEAKERS
NoonSummit IntroductionNodi Solutions, Moderator Emily Fannon
12:05 p.m.Welcome    FEMA, Office of Equal Rights, Director Leslie Saucedo
12:10 p.m.Session #6a: Justice 40 SolutionsFEMA, Resilience, Associate Administrator Victoria Salinas
12:35 p.m.Session #6b: Justice 40 Solutions from the Policy Lab    Stanford, Energy Equity & Just Transitions, Managing Director, Precourt Institute for Energy Dr. Holmes Hummel 
1:10 p.m.Session #7a: Community Organization Environmental Justice Initiatives 

Thriving Earth Exchange, Fellows Manager Maria Sharova

Little Growers Inc, Executive Director Camille Hadley 

2:00 p.m.

Session #7b: Community Organization Environmental Justice Initiatives

 

 

 

 

Environmental Protection Network, Senior Community Outreach Associate Kya Williams 

Partnership for Southern Equity, Vice President of Operations Christina Cummings 

 

2:50 p.m.Session #8: Future Outlook for Environmental Justice in Emergency Management

Moderator: FEMA, Office of Equal Rights, Director Leslie Saucedo

Elizabeth City State University, Chair Department of Aviation and Emergency Management Kevin Kupietz, Ph.D. EFO (Executive Fire Officer)

FEMA, Office of External Affairs National Tribal Affairs Advocate Kelbie Kennedy

FEMA, United States Fire Administration, Deputy Administrator Tonya Hoover

U.S. Global Change Research Program, Senior Climate and Health Specialist Leo Goldsmith

4:20 p.m.OER Leadership Closing Remarks    FEMA, Office of Equal Rights, Director Leslie Saucedo 
4:25 p.m.FEMA Leadership Closing RemarksFEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks
4:35 p.m.Adjourn 

Event Contact

If you require alternative formats or other accommodations because of a disability or access and functional need, please contact Alexandria Montesinos at Alexandria.montesinos@fema.dhs.gov or email us at FEMA-OER-CivilRightsSummit@fema.dhs.gov with your request.

Event Resources

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