More Than Just Disasters: How Natural Hazards Exacerbate Racial, Gender, and Wealth Inequalities

Philanthropy has responded generously to a range of extreme natural events over the past few years, from wildfires to earthquakes to floods to hurricanes and to heatwaves. Recent extreme natural events have exposed the vulnerability of marginalized communities – especially low-income communities and communities of color – in preparing for and responding to disasters. However, we have largely ignored the underlying mechanisms that contribute to racial, gender, and wealth inequality long after a disaster.

Join Philanthropy California for a webinar on August 21, 2019 that will feature Junia Howell, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh. She will discuss how racial, gender, and wealth inequalities get exacerbated overtime because of recurring and episodic natural hazards. Specifically, she will highlight various contributors to inequality along the lines of race, gender, and income, including government disaster aid programs, personal and household social resources, residential stability, and the nonprofit ecosystem. She will also share her perspectives about how philanthropy can advance just and equitable community resilience efforts.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Philanthropy California and the Council on Foundations.