Service-Learning for Disaster Resilience: Partnerships for Social Good

This book is the first to discuss, in practical and theoretical terms, the pedagogical approach of service-learning to establish partnerships for social good that build disaster resilience. Across 12 chapters a collection of academics and practitioners provide insights on the benefits of utilizing service-learning to address existing needs, build community capacity, and strengthen social networks while enhancing student learning.

Key features:

• Discuss how sustainable service-learning partnerships can contribute to building disaster-resilient communities;
• Provide practical tools to cultivate and manage collaborative partnerships, and engage in reflective practices;
• Integrate disciplines to create innovative approaches to complex problems;
• Share best practices, lessons learned, and case examples that identify strategies for integrating service-learning and research into course design;
• Offer considerations for ethical decision-making and for the development of equitable solutions when engaging with stakeholders;
• Identify strategies to bridge the gap between academia and practice while highlighting resources that institutions of higher education can contribute toward disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

Service-Learning for Disaster Resilience will serve as a user-friendly guide for universities, local government agencies, emergency management professionals, community leaders, and grassroots initiatives in affected communities.

Lucia Velotti, PhDis Assistant Professor in Emergency Management and Disaster Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Department of Security, Fire and Emergency Management, City University of New York (CUNY). Lucia served as co-lead for the FEMA Higher Education Service-Learning and Leadership Special Interest Group (SIG) and now serves as co-lead for the FEMA Theory and Research in Emergency Management SIG. Her interdisciplinary research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) of Kyoto, Japan and CUNY and focuses on public-private partnerships, network performance and network governance, accountability, disaster subcultures, risk communication, leadership, vertical evacuation, decision-making and spontaneous volunteer management systems.

Rebecca Morgenstern Brenner, MPA, is a Senior Lecturer in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University with additional roles as a Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability Faculty Fellow, an Engaged Cornell Faculty Fellow, and a Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies Faculty Associate. Rebecca is co-lead for the FEMA Higher Education Service-Learning and Leadership Special Interest Group. Rebecca’s research and practice focus on translating values into practice and policy by working with communities to reduce vulnerability and build resilience including managed retreat and equity, environmental justice, bridging policy with science for flooding and wildfire management, climate change education, environmental policy, energy policy, project management, and disaster communication.

Elizabeth A. Dunn, MPH, CPH, serves as an Instructor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health where she teaches a series of service-learning and research courses in disaster management, humanitarian relief, and homeland security. Elizabeth serves as the co-lead for the FEMA Higher Education Service-Learning and Leadership Special Interest Group to provide support for faculty interested in developing courses and events that integrate experiential learning. Her research focuses on mass care and building community resilience with her professional expertise in planning, shelter management, volunteer coordination along with conducting training and exercises and supporting community outreach for vulnerable populations.