Prop 68 Climate Resilience Miniseries Episode 10: Developing a San Diego Regional Coastal Resilience Roadmap
(Intro to the series here)
“By working together to develop a shared understanding of the risks we face as well as to prioritize the actions we can take to address them, we can be better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.” – Emily Young
Today we are in San Diego County talking with members of the project team leading the development of a coastal resilience roadmap that will facilitate accelerated action for coastal resilience projects and investments that prioritize benefits to underserved communities in the region. 
This Prop 68 Project will build capacity for the region as a whole and design an equitable approach that is community-led, allowing individuals living in these impacted or at-risk areas to inform the future direction of how the area is managed. The Nonprofit Institute and the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative are partnering with the Local Government Commission and Resilient Cities Catalyst to complete this work. This large collaboration exemplifies how inclusivity has been at the center of this roadmap process since its inception.
“I expect to find that there is a real appetite for action and experimentation. Now is the time to drive towards holistic resilience solutions,” says Darbi Berry, Director of Climate and Environmental Programs at The Nonprofit Institute and Lead for the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative. This project will build on and consolidate existing work in the region around climate resilience. This project was born out of the feedback and needs identified by local stakeholders in workshops held by the San Diego Coastal Exchange, which “reinvigorated regional dialogues on coastal resilience”, adds Berry.
“What makes this project unique is the Coastal Resilience Ambassador Program. We get to train, coach, and develop leaders in vulnerable communities that then get to work with their own community members to develop a shared vision for the future…and make that vision become a reality,” says Atley Keller, Project Manager for the Local Government Commission.
To learn more about this project, check out this video!
Resources:
San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Webpage
The Nonprofit Institute Website
Local Government Commission Website
Resilient Cities Catalyst Website
Credits:
Photos: San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, The Nonprofit Institute
Video Production, Editing, and Narration: Kat Beheshti
Video: Kat Beheshti
About Atley Keller: Atley is a Project Manager for the Local Government Commission. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning, with an emphasis in water management from UC Davis and her Master of Natural Resources from Oregon State University, specializing in Water Conflict Management and Transformation.
About Darbi Berry: Darbi is the Director of Climate and Environmental Programs at The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. She is also the Program Manager for the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative. Darbi earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of South Florida and her Master of Science in Environmental and Ocean Sciences from the University of San Diego.
About Dr. Emily Young: Emily is the Executive Director of The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. Prior to the University of San Diego, she served as vice president of community impact at The San Diego Foundation. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Ibero-American Studies and Spanish from University of Wisconsin, her Master of Science in Geography from University of Wisconsin, and her PhD in Geography from University of Texas.
About the Author: Dr. Kathryn Beheshti is a 2021 California Sea Grant State Fellow with the Ocean Protection Council’s Climate Change Program. Kat’s own research focuses on understanding the drivers of loss and recovery of key coastal foundation species (e.g. salt marsh plants and seagrasses). Kat is committed to making science accessible to individuals of all ages and demographics. She hosts her own science communication platform, sloughit.com and participates in an interdisciplinary science communication team at SciAll.org, where she is a Lead Vlogger.