Who We Are
Our Story
In 2012, after hearing a pastor speak about emergency preparedness, Debra Williams was inspired to send out her personal camping supplies list as a resource to her email list. Seeing a need in the community, she began speaking at churches throughout the Inland Empire about disaster preparedness. Soon after, Williams founded Building Resilient Communities. In the years since BRC has grown into one of the leading resources for residents and organizations looking to prepare for natural and human-made disasters.
We have provided training and resources for more than 600 faith-based organizations and thousands of residents as well as support during times of disaster.
Our Mission
Building Resilient Communities convenes partners to strengthen belonging, breakdown silos, and elevate community voices. We educate communities and leaders while advocating for equitable improvements that foster resilience and well-being for all.
Our Vision
BRC envisions a world where communities are filled with hope, overcome adverse conditions, are prepared for disasters, and recover from disruptive experiences.
Help Us Provide Life-Saving Resources
to Communities in the Inland Empire
Our Core Values
“Resilience is the capacity of any entity—an individual, a community, an organization, or a natural system—to prepare for disruption, to recover from shocks and stresses, and to adapt and grow from a disruptive experience. As you build resilience, therefore, you become more able to prevent or mitigate stresses and shocks you can identify and better able to respond to those you can’t predict or avoid. You also develop greater capacity to bounce back from a crisis, learn from it, and achieve revitalization.” “In the twenty-first century, building resilience is one of our most urgent social and economic issues because we live in a world that is defined by disruptions.”
Judith Rodin, Being Strong in a World Where Things Go Wrong: the Resilience Dividend
Our Impact
BRC works with a trusted network of partners to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises. We equip hundreds of faith, community, and business leaders with disaster preparedness tools, resources, and timely emergency updates, providing thousands of people with critical information to stay safe during wildfires, floods, earthquakes, pandemics, and other emergencies.
Our Areas of Impact
- Disaster Preparedness & Response: Strengthening communities to anticipate, withstand, and recover from emergencies.
- Climate Resilience: Addressing climate challenges through sustainable, community-centered solutions.
- Health Equity: Promoting fair access to health resources so all communities can thrive.
- Community Connection: Connecting people, partners, and resources to build collective resilience.
How We Do It
BRC brings people together to turn connection into action. We convene individuals and organizations, break down silos, elevate community voices, and educate residents and decision-makers while advocating for equitable community improvements. When emergencies arise, we act quickly, providing hands-on support such as distributing thousands of face masks, hand sanitizers, and test kits during COVID-19. We strengthen our response by collaborating with Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and working closely with public partners including Riverside County EMD and San Bernardino County OES. Grounded in preparedness and driven by partnership, we meet communities where they are to build lasting resilience.
preparing communities
trained and prepared
to the community
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