The Collier Community Foundation, Greater Naples Leadership and Naples United Church of Christ are joining forces to present “Taking the Punch out of Powerful Hurricanes: A Forum on Building Resilience” 3:30-5 p.m. March 18 at Naples United Church of Christ.

This community forum will delve into the profound effects of hurricanes on our quality of life and local economy, and the unprecedented challenges facing our coastal community. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into the science behind these powerful storms and learn actionable steps and proactive measures the community can take to prepare for, respond to and build resilience against future hurricanes.

Keynote speakers for the event include Matt Devitt, chief meteorologist of WINK News; Jennifer Jurado, chief resilience officer and deputy department director of the Resilient Environment Department in Broward County; and Dan Summers, director of the Collier County Emergency Management Division.

The event will be moderated by Eileen Connolly- Keesler, president and CEO of the Collier Community Foundation.

“The profound challenges hurricanes bring to our community require a united approach, and that’s why the collaboration [among] the Collier Community Foundation, Greater Naples Leadership and Naples United Church of Christ is so important,” Connolly- Keesler said. “Together, we’re bringing diverse perspectives and expertise to the table to host a forum that dives deeply into the lasting impact of these storms on our lives, our environment and our future. This partnership embodies the spirit of resilience and collective action needed to foster understanding, share solutions and build a stronger, more prepared community.”

Several local environmental and resilience organizations will host tables to inform visitors about how they are working to address resiliency concerns and how the public can get involved.

Attendees for this free event may register by visiting colliercf.org or gnlwebsite.org. Walkups are welcome as space allows.