The Resilient Eastside Initiative (REI) is a network of 12 community-led climate resilience hubs on Detroit’s eastside working to support residents before, during, and after climate-related emergencies. Led by the Eastside Community Network (ECN) and Elevate, REI addresses systemic racial and economic inequities that leave historically marginalized communities more vulnerable to extreme weather, flooding, power outages, and poor air quality.

To strengthen REI’s impact, a 2024 Dow Fellows team developed two key resources: a standardized emergency planning template and an asset mapping tool. The emergency planning template provides a structured approach for resilience hubs to prepare for and respond to climate-related crises, ensuring that community needs are met efficiently. The asset mapping tool visually represents available resources at each hub, enhancing collaboration, resource distribution, and overall operational capacity.

Working closely with hub leaders and community partners, the team tailored these tools to be user-friendly, sustainable, and culturally responsive. By equipping REI hubs with practical, community-driven solutions, this project empowers local leaders to build long-term climate resilience, improve emergency preparedness, and drive systemic change on Detroit’s eastside.