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Red Cross Leadership Briefings Reach Out to Community Organizations
Written by
Katie Lawson
, Staff Writer, Redcross.org
Monday, August 28, 2006 — The American Red Cross recently held briefings in Washington, D.C., with representatives from special interest groups, business and civic leaders and government officials to discuss the changes made in Red Cross disaster relief resources and operational policies since last year’s challenging hurricane season and its plans for the 2006 season.
At each day’s opening session, American Red Cross Senior Vice President of Preparedness and Response Joe Becker offered a comprehensive review of last year’s hurricane season.
(Photo Credit: Leigh-Anne Dennison/
American Red Cross)
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In addition to allowing the organization to outline preparations for the 2006 season and other future disasters, the two, half-day briefings held on July 24 and 25, 2006, provided the Red Cross with an opportunity to express its interest in engaging various organizations as partners. The goal of such partnerships is two-fold; enhancing the reach of Red Cross disaster relief services to impacted populations and facilitating faster or eliminating duplicated response efforts in the midst of disasters by having established relationships in place in local communities.
Red Cross leaders and subject matter experts led the sessions and attendees represented the African-American, Asian, Hispanic, disability and GLBT communities, and included business and civic leaders as well as government officials.
The briefing began on Monday, July 24, with a few introductory remarks from American Red Cross President and CEO, Jack McGuire. McGuire expressed his confidence that participants would leave with a greater understanding of the Red Cross and its role in disaster relief.
Presentations were given by subject matter experts from the Red Cross with a question and answer period afterwards. Red Cross Senior Vice President of Preparedness and Response Joe Becker offered a comprehensive review of last year’s hurricane season.
“The response in 2005 was 20 times larger than anything the Red Cross has faced before,” said Becker. “We did, however, conduct a comprehensive, in-depth review of our response and identified specific areas we need to focus on for the future.”
Since last year, the Red Cross has increased its capacity to serve one million meals and shelter approximately 500,000 people per day. Red Cross warehouse space also has tripled in size since 2005. The Red Cross, as a volunteer-driven organization, has worked through existing partnerships with civic and faith-based organizations to train more than 400 new volunteers. New training opportunities in disaster communication and shelter operations also have been offered to these volunteers.
“It is important that we try to recruit and train volunteers who represent the community the American Red Cross is serving,” said Becker.
Chief Operating Officer of the NAACP in Baltimore, Rev. Nelson B. Rivers, III, participates in a question and answer session during the July 25 briefing in Washington, D.C. The meetings, hosted by the Red Cross, engaged attendees representing the African-American, Asian, Hispanic, disability and GLBT communities as well as leaders from businesses, civic organizations and government agencies. (Photo Credit: Leigh-Anne Dennison/
American Red Cross)
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Rick Pogue, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer for the Red Cross, discussed how the Red Cross has increased the diversity of its volunteers since the 2005 hurricane season. More than 130 Community Relations Liaisons have been recruited and trained to assist in disaster relief operations. During a disaster relief operation, these liaisons address concerns raised by diverse community members, resolve conflicts and are responsible for identifying underserved or previously unreachable communities.
The Red Cross has made new preparedness materials available in different languages in order to support the engagement of the minority community during disaster response. Partnerships also have been expanded and are occurring on the local level with chapters across the country.
Russ Paulsen, Executive Director of the Red Cross Hurricane Recovery Program, provided an overview of the program and its goals. The ongoing, five-year program strives to provide services to improve the quality of life for survivors of Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita. The program also looks to strengthen existing partnerships and create new ones to enhance the level of services provided.
Through the ongoing recovery process the Red Cross will provide case management services, mental health programs and monitor emerging needs in the region. The recruitment and hiring of new staff will continue over the next few years.
A portion of the meeting was dedicated to a question and answer session where participants voiced their opinions and discussed various concerns. These sessions proved to be informative and addressed topics ranging from discrimination in shelters to concerns regarding potentially uneven distribution of relief supplies.
Director of Diversity/Chapter Operations for the Red Cross Gayle Brock (right) addresses a question by Helena Berger (left) of the American Association of People with Disabilities regarding accessibility of Red Cross emergency shelters for people with disabilities, July 24, 2006.
(Photo Credit: Leigh-Anne Dennison/American Red Cross)
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“How can the Red Cross help serve people with disabilities who do not need to stay in ‘special needs’ shelters?” inquired Helena Berger, Chief Operating Officer of the American Association of People with Disabilities.
Gayle Brock, Director of Diversity/Chapter Operations for the Red Cross, responded that while the Red Cross does not operate “special needs” shelters, Red Cross shelters are open and welcoming to those people with disabilities that may require extra service. He also mentioned that there are several online training courses available to disaster volunteers on how to better serve people with disabilities.
Another question concerned whether or not the Red Cross is integrating diversity-sensitivity into its volunteer training programs. Pogue replied that the Red Cross is looking at ways to “revamp” its previous training across the organization.
“After reviewing the many challenges faced during last year’s hurricane season, the Red Cross has decided to make diversity-sensitivity training part of all regular training procedures,” said Pogue, adding that, “Community Relations Liaisons have been prepared and trained to help bridge this gap.”
To learn more about preparing for disasters, Red Cross partnerships and becoming a Red Cross volunteer in your community, visit www.redcross.org or contact your local Red Cross chapter.
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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