Leadership & Growth
In 2024 and 2025, the DRLN focused on reimagining the leadership and decision-making process of the Network and in-person gatherings. These efforts resulted in the Advisory Lead Council, consisting of six DRLN members, and regional leads for CBO members located in Portland Metro, Central Oregon, and Southern Oregon. United Way of Columbia-Willamette also continued the DRLN Resiliency Grant which support local and regional disaster resilience efforts. Seven CBOs received funding through this grant.
The massive wildfires that hit Oregon in September 2020 had a tremendous impact on the health and well-being of communities of color across the state. In the immediate aftermath of this disaster, community-based organizations serving communities of color identified profound gaps in communications, evacuation, shelter, and other systems intended to alert and protect the state’s residents from disasters. The Disaster Resilience Learning Network (DRLN) was created in 2021 to bring together culturally grounded and/or people of color serving community-based organizations (CBOs) and leaders who serve communities of color disproportionately impacted by disasters.