Making a difference every day...

Dear Friends,

As we move into autumn, we have so much to celebrate and share with our incredible community. First and foremost, we want to thank everyone who attended and supported our recent Stars Under the Stars fundraiser event. The evening was a resounding success, filled with inspiring stories, heartfelt connections, and a shared commitment to empowering and protecting our Ready Responders. Your generosity helps us continue providing vital training and support to those who are first on the scene during crises. Thank you for making this event truly memorable!

In addition to the success of our event, we’re excited to share that the 9/11 Day Ready Responder Initiative is still going strong and will continue through October. This initiative is an opportunity for individuals to receive essential training that will start them on a path to become Ready Responders. Trainees also receive Ready Responder Packs, which include volunteer protective equipment and a Ready Responders tee shirt. In addition, participants are invited to be a part of a national movement and an “I am a Ready Responder” video. If you haven't already participated, there's still time to join this meaningful movement and honor the legacy of 9/11 by becoming part of the next generation of community leaders and responders.

Lastly, we are thrilled to announce that World Cares Center has received another OSHA / Susan Harwood grant allowing us to expand our resilient worker initiative on topics of disaster response and safety. Worker training will include topics on resilient worker safety in disaster response and clean up, restoration and rebuilding including the recognition, prevention, and control of both physical and emotional hazards and risks workers face in all phases of disaster response. Please contact us if you are interested in this critical resource and training to protect the safety and health of workers in our communities.

I encourage you to read on to find a full schedule of training for October. As always, thank you for your continued support of our mission to train and protect our Ready Responders as they serve those in need while empowering individuals and communities to be ready, resilient, and safe.

Lisa Orloff

World Cares Center

Founder and President

Stars Under the Stars Fundraiser – Success!

Our annual fundraiser, Stars Under the Stars, was a resounding success, showcasing the incredible collective spirit of our community! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors and everyone who joined us in this celebration of resilience and the unwavering dedication of our Ready Responders. Together, we honored the remarkable contributions of volunteers, front-line workers, and disaster responders, recognizing that their commitment is the backbone of our preparedness efforts. The funds raised will significantly enhance World Cares Center’s programs, empowering us to train and protect our Ready Responders, build a robust global network, and provide timely support in times of crisis. A special thank you to our generous sponsors for their support in fostering a culture of resilience: Fornino, Brooklyn Brewery, GFP Real Estate, Tito's Vodka, Sugar in the Raw, Barasch & McGarry, Brown Advisory, Marcum, Davis Brody Bond, Dakoit Pictures, Morgan Stanley, Fusion Risk Management, Bank of America, and Peerless Beverage Co. As we look to the future, let us continue to engage and collaborate, building a stronger, more resilient community where every individual plays a vital role in disaster preparedness. Together, we can inspire action and ensure that we are always ready to respond when it matters most.

The 9/11 Day Ready Responder Initiative

World Cares Center is thrilled to announce its partnership with 9/11 Day, AmeriCorps, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in an inspiring initiative that transforms the powerful phrase "Never Forget" into meaningful action. From September through October, we invite everyone to join us in becoming a Ready Responder, where you can receive essential training and equip yourself with a complimentary Ready Responder go bag, complete with protective gear, and a stylish Ready Responders tee shirt. This is not just an opportunity to prepare yourself; it's a chance to be featured in the “I am a Ready Responder” national video, showcasing your commitment to community resilience and preparedness. Together, let’s cultivate a spirit of compassion and empowerment, making a significant impact in our communities during times of need.

Join Us at John Jay College of Criminal Justice on October 22, 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM.

Schedule a training for your group HERE

Ready Responder Roundtable: Cyber Safety

October 17 from 1 - 2 PM ET via Zoom

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a pivotal time for elevating awareness about the critical importance of cybersecurity. World Cares Center's Round Table presents a unique opportunity to tap into the expertise of cybersecurity specialists at Iluminr, empowering your grassroots or community organization to fortify itself against cyberattacks and concentrate on its vital mission. By delving into common cyber threats, uncovering essential strategies for safeguarding sensitive data, and implementing cost-effective cybersecurity measures, you can transform your organization's resilience. Embrace this chance to not only protect your data but also to inspire confidence and trust among those you serve, ensuring that you are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of today's digital landscape. Together, we can build a safer environment that allows our missions to thrive.

Lunch & Learn: Disaster Response Safety for Workers

October 24 from 1 - 3 PM ET via Zoom

In this resilient worker disaster response and safety training, trainees will partake in a self-awareness assessment of their physical and emotional capabilities related to their role in disaster response. In addition, trainees will understand and apply proper management systems and protocol during disaster response, clean up, restoration, and rebuilding efforts that contribute to improved recognition and control of hazards, team building and management safety, including protocols on length of shifts, breaks, span of control and more.

This free training and materials are produced under grant number SH-000047-SH3 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Hosted and Self-Paced Training

I am A Ready Responder Training with the Staten Island Non Profit Association.

October 15, 2024

You can start your journey to becoming a Ready Responder NOW.

Take your self-paced Ready Responder training HERE.

Schedule a training for your group of 12 or more HERE.

This free training and materials are produced under grant number SH-000047-SH4 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Three-Tiered Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential

Receive Your Collaborative Disaster Volunteer Credential With 3 Levels of Training

Since the tragic events of 2001, we have witnessed an alarming rise in the frequency and severity of disasters, presenting us with complex challenges and an ever-growing number of individuals in need of assistance. In the face of these mounting pressures, our organizations must innovate ways to serve effectively while ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved. This is no small feat, but we can rise to the occasion by fostering resilience within ourselves and our communities.

Recognizing this urgent need, a dedicated board of advisors has united to develop the groundbreaking three-tiered Cooperative Disaster Volunteer Credential training program, designed to equip volunteers with essential knowledge and skills for effective disaster response. Born from the lessons learned in the aftermath of September 11th, World Cares Center and its partners are committed to training diverse volunteers to collaborate safely and with a shared understanding of best practices. However, we know that grassroots organizations often struggle to access the necessary training resources, which is where the Cooperative steps in as a steadfast ally. We invite you to join this inspiring collaborative movement, where together we can share resources, enhance our collective capabilities, and ultimately reduce responder injuries. Let's unite in our mission to create a robust network of Ready Responders, ensuring that we can all respond effectively to crises while prioritizing our own safety and well-being.

Schedule a training for your group of 12 or more HERE.

This training is supported by Rutgers University Atlantic COHST and Con Edison.

Addressing Trauma and Grief Through Hope, Love, and Courage

Hope, Love and Courage; Healing Arts for Refugees

The Hope, Love and Courage program was founded during the September 11th relief effort at our community center, September Space, for rescue workers, disaster volunteers and survivors. This program has been adapted for other audiences and we have been recently offering this program to Ukrainian children and their parents or caregivers. World Cares Center, with two decades of experience in emotional resilience, mental health and art therapy, has created a guidebook for caregivers that includes a coloring book for affected children and a journal for young adults. These publications have been translated into several languages to help child survivors manage their trauma and grief.

Learn more about Hope, Love and Courage HERE.

World Cares Center's Mission

World Cares Center's mission is to ease the harm, suffering and loss caused by disasters trough the empowerment of under-served, at-risk communities to prevent everyday accidents and react as educated and skilled ready responders when disasters occur.

We provide free training on safety, emotional resiliency, and disaster volunteerism, as well as disaster management for leaders. Whether you prefer in-person training at your location or in our training center, virtual sessions via Zoom, or self-paced online courses through www.disastervolunteerismacademy.org, we have options to suit your needs.

Take advantage of this opportunity to equip yourself with the skills and knowledge needed to make a difference in times of crisis. To schedule your training, simply email us today and start your journey towards becoming a valuable disaster volunteer.

Schedule your training today

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