Resilience Force

Overview

Resilience Force is a national nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to transforming the response to disasters. It focuses on strengthening and securing the resilience workforce—the millions of workers, especially immigrants and workers of color, who are crucial in recovering from disasters and preparing for climate-related challenges.

Mission

The organization aims to build a stable, inclusive, and well-compensated resilience workforce that can perform year-round climate adaptation and preparation work, as well as rebuild after disasters. Resilience Force advocates for policies that support more equitable recoveries, emphasizing economic and racial equity rather than exacerbating existing inequalities.

History

The concept of a resilience workforce emerged in part as a response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which led to a massive influx of migrant workers for rebuilding efforts. This workforce has continued to grow, especially as climate-related disasters have increased. In 2018, there had been over 150 billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. since 2005, underscoring the need for a robust resilience workforce.

Areas of Focus

• On-the-Ground Deployment: Resilience Force deploys workers to disaster-stricken areas to support recovery efforts.
• Policy Advocacy: The organization advocates for policy changes at federal and state levels to protect the rights and improve the conditions of resilience workers.
• Legal Advocacy: Resilience Force engages in legal efforts, such as cases addressing wage theft and labor rights, to support workers.
• Cultural Change Initiatives: This includes campaigns like "Immigrants Are Essential," which highlights the critical role immigrant workers play in the U.S. economy.

Leadership and Partnerships

Saket Soni is the founder and executive director of Resilience Force. The organization is also supported by various partners and foundations that align with its goals of environmental advocacy and worker rights.

Activities

Resilience Force's activities include organizing resilience workers, advocating for better labor protections, and creating cultural narratives that value the contributions of immigrant and other underrepresented workers in recovery efforts. The organization has been involved in significant legal cases and policy debates, contributing to discussions around equitable disaster recovery and climate resilience.