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Make Service to Others Your New Year’s Resolution

The New Year presents an opportunity for positive change and new beginnings. Most often we look introspectively and make resolutions for self-improvement. But what if this year we replaced these with the resolve to help others?

One of BRC’s foundational core values is service to society. Daily we work for the well-being of the people in the communities we serve to ensure they experience dignity and respect. Through this essential work we educate, share resources, and connect which are critical actions to increase personal resiliency.

Everyone has the capacity and capability to serve.

Helping others offers great benefits by improving your physical and mental health. A research study published in the Journal of Health and Aging found that older adults who volunteered were less likely to have high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Engaging in service to others might even help you live longer. Another study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior reported that service to the community increased happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, and physical health, and helped fight against depression. Serving others not only provides a helping hand - but it can also fill your heart and soul with gratitude and life.

Not sure where to get started?

Everyone has a community, and that is a perfect place to start. Each community may look a bit different but each also has endless possibilities to help others. Start by looking at your place of worship, school, or neighborhood. Identify a need in your community, think of a way you can help meet that need, take action, and don’t be afraid - you may be just the person or have the resource someone else needs!

I believe you will keep this resolution, unlike the New Year resolutions of the past. Resolving to serve others in whatever capacity or manner you dedicate yourself to profoundly affect the people you have committed to serving. Your presence, time, talents, and support make a difference. You will see your impact!

We wish you a wonderful New Year filled with infinite possibilities and the resolve to serve others as you have been served. In profound gratitude, Debra

Are You Ready?

At our very core, Building Resilient Communities' fervent mission is to ensure that communities are ready in the event of a crisis. BRC provides disaster preparedness tools, resources, and updates on emergency situations to hundreds of faith, community, and business leaders. When fires start, floods occur, the earth shakes, pandemics strike, or communities experience violence, we provide thousands of people with the information they need to stay safe.

California's winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Download your Winter Storm preparation toolkit here.

As we begin this new year let us resolve to be ready! Natural and man-made disasters can strike at any time. BRC is committed to bringing you tips and resources each month to help you prepare all year long. Together, let's commit to a safe 2023!

COVID-19, RSV, and flu continue to spread this winter season. BRC strongly recommends everyone wear masks in all indoor public settings to reduce the spread of these viruses.

Remember, people who are at increased risk of severe illness from one or more respiratory viruses, including people 65 years and older, infants, people with a weakened immune system, people with certain underlying medical conditions, people who are pregnant, and people who are not up to date on their flu or COVID-19 vaccinations, should consider taking additional precautions to avoid exposure to respiratory viruses.

This may include limiting attendance at large indoor gatherings, wearing a mask when gathering with others, and asking people to wear a mask and get a COVID-19 test prior to gathering. People who are at increased risk of severe illness, especially those 65 years and older, should talk to their healthcare provider immediately after they become sick or test positive.

COVID-19: Protect yourself and others by keeping these common-sense safety steps in mind.

Here is a list of “Do’s and Don’ts” for daily life:

Do
Get vaccinated and boosted
Wear a mask where required
Turn on exposure notifications on your phone
Get tested and stay home if you’re sick
Isolate if you test positive
Get tested if required by your workplace
Wear a mask to protect the vulnerable

Don’t
Lose your proof of vaccination
Think you can’t get the virus or pass it on because you feel well
Assume everyone is vaccinated
Expect all COVID-19 rules everywhere to be lifted
Attend large events if you’re sick
Travel if you’re sick

Keep up to date with current COVID-19 here

What a great turnout! Our Winter Wonderland Health and Safety Fair was a grand success. Participants, both young and old, walked down Santa Claus Lane filled with vendors and great raffle prizes, and could even receive free flu and COVID-19 vaccines at our pop-up clinic. And as a special treat, everyone had a chance to meet and take a picture with Santa Claus!

Thank those who came to see us and visit our vendors who worked hard to support this community. We couldn't do what we do without partners like these. Thank you!

Roadmap to Resilience Report

On September 13, 2022, the nonprofit organization Building Resilient Communities (BRC) brought together leaders from across the Inland Empire of Southern California for an event called the Ark of Safety Community Resiliency Summit, designed to be the start of a movement that builds long-lasting community resilience in our region. Event attendees included representatives from nonprofits, faith-based organizations, county agencies, funders, and local elected officials, among others.

The event included three breakout groups focused on the following topics:
1. What is community vulnerability?
2. Solutions to reduce/eliminate community vulnerability
3. Actions and next steps to reduce/eliminate community vulnerability

A summary report was created by the nonprofit organization HARC, Inc. (Health Assessment and Research for Communities), which summarizes the results from those breakout groups. It explores the themes and knowledge that the participants brought to the table and sets the stage for the next convening to create a concrete action plan for implementing these solutions to vulnerability. To learn more from this report:

https://bit.ly/roadmaptoresilienceAOS or scan the QR Code below.

Registration Is Now Open

Join us for our Ark Of Safety Community Resiliency Summit Reconvening on January 12, 2023!

At this event, we’ll explore how common social vulnerability characteristics, such as race and ethnicity, education, gender, and household composition, income and poverty, housing tenure, and age, all lead to differences in community capacity, information, power, and control, and resources, and which ultimately results in disparities in response to, and recovery from, disasters.

In-Person Registration

Online Registration

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is recognized each year on January 11th. In recognition of this important day, and throughout January, we acknowledge that Human trafficking has deep roots in the history of this country going back to a time when slavery was prevalent. Despite the abolishment of slavery in December of 1865, human trafficking is still growing at an alarming rate in the United States.

To educate ourselves and our communities about human trafficking and learn how to spot signs of trafficking, the United States Senate initiated January 11th as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

According to the US Department of Justice, Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services or to engage in commercial sex acts. Coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. The exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of any form of force, fraud, or coercion used. And as in many crimes of exploitation and abuse, human traffickers often prey upon members of marginalized communities and other vulnerable individuals.

To learn signs of human trafficking visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline

Join BRC on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day by:

Taking part in a human trafficking awareness program
Volunteering in an anti-trafficking organization
Donating to an aftercare organization
Taking part in community projects, presentations, and training.
Taking part in the 31:8 project which aims at addressing issues regarding human trafficking. This project aims to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Let the World Know. Use #NationalHumanTraffickingAwarenessDay and #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay and share your posts on social media to spread awareness

#WearBlueDay: January 11

In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and throughout the month of January, Blue Campaign hosts several special events and educational activities. Blue Campaign’s largest initiative is #WearBlueDay on January 11th.

To raise awareness of human trafficking, BRC invites the public to take photos of themselves, friends, family, and colleagues wearing blue clothing and share them on social media – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – along with our #WearBlueDay hashtag. Anyone can participate, all you need is a piece of blue clothing!

Follow @DHSBlueCampaign on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Support BRC by Shopping Amazon Smile!

Shopping for the holidays? Experience feel-good shopping and support BRC by using Amazon Smile! When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you will find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to BRC. Get shopping and make a difference today!

Your Gift Makes Resilient Communities Possible

Our community has faced several crises, from wildfires to COVID-19. While we are actively preparing families and businesses to persevere in the face of disaster, we need your help to make our efforts go even further!

You can help us provide communities with personal protection equipment, training, and disaster preparedness resources. Your support is crucial to our efforts to create a resilient, self-sufficient community.

If you’re able, we’d love it if you could donate to help us achieve our mission.

Donate to Save Lives

Copyright © *2019* *Building Resilient Communities*, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
301 N. 9th St., Ste. 303, Entrance Reception 200, Redlands, CA 92374

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