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Building Resilient Communities: A Multi-Sector Approach to Navigating Climate-Driven Disasters

Written by Build Healthy Places Staff on March 16, 2026

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Missed BHPN’s Virtual Summit? Watch the recording to continue the conversation on community-driven climate resilience. 

The Challenge is Urgent. The Solution is Collaborative.

Climate-driven disasters—marked by escalating high heat, extreme weather, and rising sea levels—are causing serious harm to community health and well-being. Communities already sidelined by decades of disinvestment, particularly communities of color, face the greatest burden of these harms. To build meaningful resilience against threats like extreme heat, floods, food insecurity, and displacement, we must activate coordinated, multi-sector investment anchored by community leadership. 

Build Healthy Places Network convened a virtual summit focused on advancing equitable, multisector strategies that strengthen long-term community resilience.

The summit brought together local and national leaders across Community Development, Health, Philanthropy, and Government to explore how community-led, multi-sector partnerships are advancing equitable climate action and strengthening long-term resilience. Through these conversations, participants engaged with tangible, real-world examples of strategies and interventions that are helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-driven disasters.

Featured Panelists

Fireside Chat

A leading voice on climate change and equitable solutions, Dr. Manuel Pastor challenged leaders to move beyond their silos and forge the community-led partnerships required for effective change.

Dr. Manuel Pastor

Director, Equity Research Institute | University of Southern California

Panel Discussion: Innovative Multi-Sector Examples

This moderated panel featured community leaders and practitioners highlighting tangible examples of multi-sector work, showcasing what each sector is already doing individually to address natural disasters and climate change, focusing on initiatives that specifically address equity and support community-led strategies.

Zelalem Adefris, MPH

CEO | Catalyst Miami

Anna Goldman

Medical Director of Climate & Sustainability & Primary Care Physician | Boston Medical Center

Christopher Locke

Steward of Mission and Vision | The Collective UNbound

Funders Spotlight: Investment in Climate Resilience

Funders shared their organizations’ role in addressing climate-driven disasters, detailing their investment strategies for building community resilience, and outlining their perspective on future funding needs for a multi-sector approach.

Monica Valdes Lupi

Managing Director, Health Programs | The Kresge Foundation