Empowering Resilience: Join Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Community Fair!

Since a knowledgeable and equipped community is more robust, safer, and more stable, community members are encouraged to attend the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Community Resilience Fair, taking place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16.

The complimentary, family-oriented event will be held at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, 5315 Foothill Road.

This fair aims to serve as a thorough emergency preparedness and response platform to enhance awareness within the community. It features dinner, childcare, family-oriented activities, and raffle giveaways.

“As an organization, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has collaborated closely with Santa Barbara County and the city of Carpinteria to understand what it entails to cultivate a more resilient community,” stated Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria.

“One approach to fostering resilience is through education. We aim for community members to recognize whom to contact and how to prepare for and react to emergencies,” Collins added.

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria was selected as one of three pilot programs for the Community Resilience Hub initiated under the direction of Santa Barbara County in 2023. As part of this initiative, the Girls Inc. campus has undergone evaluations for sustainable enhancements and has been prepared by the Red Cross to function as an evacuation shelter during emergencies.

As a hub, part of the initiative will also include regular events aimed at connecting residents with resources and developing a well-coordinated network of partner agencies.
 
“We’ve observed during recent emergencies that Carpinteria can feel isolated from larger population centers,” Collins remarked.

“To foster a more resilient community, it is essential to create opportunities for experts and residents to gather and establish connections, ensuring that community preparedness remains a priority,” Collins stated. “This will be our inaugural event, opening the Girls Inc. campus for this purpose.”

Participating agencies at the fair include: Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, the Red Cross, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Carpinteria Children’s Project, Firesafe Council, Community Environmental Council, Listos, BWell, Tri-County Regional Center, Santa Barbara County Sustainability Division, and One Climate.