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When disaster looms, it is absolutely imperative to prepare as well as inform all members of your community. It is even more important to prepare and inform all members of your community after a disaster occurs. A key setback many field units face is being able to spread a uniform message to all, including members of diverse communities.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census Report, youth and young adults are the most racially diverse segment of the population. What does this mean for your field unit? This means that the youth and young adult volunteers at your field unit are willing and able to spread a uniform message about health and safety and disaster preparedness, as well as any other type of information, from your field unit to members of diverse communities.
Taejo Yoo, an 18 year-old volunteer from Pennsylvania, recognized the need for blood in his community. Not only did he donate himself but he went home prior to the blood drive and informed his Korean parents about the desperate need for blood donors. He brought his parents with him to the blood drive.
"I took them here twice," said Yoo. "I told them about giving. They don't speak English."
One way to involve youth and young adults in communicating health and safety and disaster preparedness information, fundraising efforts and/or a call for blood donors is by creating a youth and young adult response communication team.
Ask your youth and young adult volunteers to come up with communication tools that will help assist them when reaching out to their communities. Also, encourage your youth and young adult volunteers to think of which type of information is important to their community. Foster mentorship by integrating the youth response communication team with members from the communications department at your field unit.
When a disaster strikes, keep the youth response communication team abreast of the current response situation. Include them in strategic response meetings. Disperse a select few with the disaster response teams responding to affected areas. These youth and young adult volunteers may be able to communicate with victims who may not speak English fluently. They will also be able to help spread important information on what to do after the disaster.
Involving youth and young adults in all aspects of field unit functions is essential to help further the mission of the American Red Cross. With the help of youth and young adults you will also be able to further response communication into diverse communities.
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