The Race to Resilience Culture
The Race to Resilience Culture (RTRC) initiative, led by the U.S. Office and Africa Secretariat of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), aims to enhance climate resilience through the integration of cultural and heritage-based strategies (CHBSs) within communities in the United States and Africa.
Culture and Heritage Advocates at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Photo Credit: Climate Heritage Network.
Background
The Race to Resilience Culture (RTRC) initiative, spearheaded by the U.S. Office and Africa Secretariat of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), seeks to build climate resilience by integrating cultural and heritage-based strategies (CHBSs) into communities across the United States and Africa. Backed by the Climate Heritage Network (CHN) and funded through a subgrant from The Power of Preservation Foundation (POP), ICLEI draws on its expertise as the first and largest global network of over 2,500 local and regional governments committed to addressing the world’s most challenging sustainability issues.
The RTRC initiative aims to support vulnerable groups and communities in becoming more resilient to climate risks through the adoption of CHBSs. To meet this goal, the initiative will mobilize 75 cities to commit to enhancing culture-based actions for climate resilience and adaptation, with measurable progress reported along the way.
Apply to RTRC
If you are interested in being a part of this program, please review the program descriptions and requirements above and indicate your interest by filling out this form by January 31, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their participation by February 14, 2025 and will need to commit to engaging in the program from March 2025 to September 2026.
Cities that are not selected to participate in the RTRC will have the opportunity to be placed – on a first come, first served basis – in the Race to Resilience Culture Academy. The Academy will draw upon the lessons learned from the RTRC program and share them with 40+ cities through virtual webinars and online platforms between April-September 2026.
Key Goals
These four goals will guide the RTRC through 2024-2026:
- Provide CHBS capacity-building support to at least 75 local governments.
- Secure commitments from 30 cities across the U.S. and Africa to adopt CHBS by 2026.
- Pair African and U.S. cities in a peer-to-peer exchange that provides a deep examination of culture-based resilience strategies and innovation that is shared broadly.
- Develop a data workbook with metrics for cities and regions to track and manage CHBS initiatives.
Core Focus Areas
RTRC focuses on
- Supporting underserved communities by engaging public bodies and cultural organizations in CHBS initiatives.
- Centering resilience-building within cultural heritage programs.
- Normalizing the integration of culture in climate planning efforts.
Program Overview
Meet the Team
Kale Roberts
Deputy Director
ICLEI USA
Kate Strachan
Senior Manager Climate Change Resilience, Coastal Management & DRR
ICLEI Africa
Dania Petrik
Senior Specialist: Climate Change, Energy and Resilience
ICLEI Africa
Marisa Kellogg
Senior Program Officer
ICLEI USA
Anne Marie Cleary Rauker
Senior Communications Officer
ICLEI USA
Melissa Velasquez
Program Associate
ICLEI USA
Caio Pereira
Program Associate
ICLEI USA
