FILLING IN THE INFORMATION GAP!

WELCOME!

Suzee Bailey

Founder

Residents for Resilience

Is it safe to drink the water?
Is it safe to recreate in our waterways?
Will stormwater flood my home again?

These are just a few of the urgent questions

we hear from concerned

residents throughout South Florida.

Residents for Resilience (R4R) is a nonprofit organization

focused on four critical water issues:

💧 Safe, clean drinking water
🌊 Flood mitigation and stormwater management
🌴 Storm resiliency and coastal protection
🐚 Waterway and marine ecosystem restoration

We help fill in the information gap between

government leaders, scientists, engineers, and the public

through education, communication, advocacy, and collaboration.

Because "it’s hard to care about what you don’t know about."

By bringing experts to the table - encouraging informed dialogue -

helping communities better understand both

the science and the possible solutions -

we work to strengthen long-term resilience across South Florida.

Let your voice be heard - Be part of the solution.

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as we share even more informative articles on important water issues!

We can't do what we do with out your support!

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"IT’S HARD TO CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT!"

WHAT WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON

Flood Mitigation & Stormwater Management
Helping fill in the information gap by sharing updated flood information, innovative stormwater

management approaches, homeowner preparedness guidance, CRS rating benefits, and available

relief or grant opportunities for flood-impacted residents.

Waterlogged Events
Bringing residents together with top specialists to better understand flooding and storm preparedness,

waterways remediation efforts, storm water management , and exploring innovative resilience solutions.

Mangroves and Coastal Protection
Supporting thoughtful decisions that recognize the flood protection, habitat value, and resilience benefits natural

mangrove systems provide.

Students for Resilience
Engaging and mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders through

education, innovation, and community service.

Artificial Turf & Public Health Awareness

Raising awareness about potential health and environmental concerns linked to artificial turf (“plastic grass”),

including excessive heat, microplastic shedding, vapor exposure, and long-term

impacts on both people and the environment.

Restaurants for Resilience
Recognizing and encouraging sustainable practices within the local business community.

Nature-Based Solutions
Promoting practical approaches such as living shorelines, mangroves, water filtration research,

biochar pilot studies and marine habitat restoration.

Coastal Projects & Marine Impacts
Addressing major coastal concerns including sand bypass activity, coral impacts near the port,

shoreline changes, and the broader marine and environmental questions linked to coastal construction and expansion.

Filling the Information Gap!

🌿 WE WON (for now)— MANGROVES STAY! 🌿. READ MORE...	YOUR VOICE MATTERS! Sample Letter Provided Click Here -
Artificial Turf Health Risks! - READ MORE	Is it safe to drink the water? READ MORE
Arkly Flood Map - Downtown Las Olas High Risk READ MORE	Mangroves vs. Warehouse! READ MORE
Millions of Coral Will Be Affected! Port Everglades Expansion Project READ MORE	$88 Million Flood Relief Grant READ MORE
What is Compound Flooding? READ MORE	Las Olas Mobility Project concerns READ MORE
Flood Insurance Discount - Community Rating System (CRS) READ MORE

Continuing Our Student Partnership with Florida International University!

A sincere thank you to Florida International University for once again inviting Residents for Resilience (R4R) to partner through their Spring 2026 Writing About the Environment course — an exciting collaboration that continues connecting students with real-world environmental issues shaping South Florida.

We are especially pleased to continue expanding our partnership with Dr. Marta Gierczyk, and Lucas, Luke Rodewald, and FIU’s Department of English and Community Partnerships program.

As part of this collaboration, we were invited to introduce students to the R4R mission and share our presentation on the four critical water issues that guide our work:

Safe, clean drinking water

Flood mitigation

Storm resiliency

Restoring the health of our priceless waterways

Students will now begin developing environmental storytelling projects tied to real-world environmental concerns, with R4R helping guide project development and connecting classroom learning to meaningful community impact.

We are always encouraged by the thoughtful questions, ideas, and discussions that follow these presentations. Vice President Tricia Halliday also joined the discussion, helping contribute to the thoughtful exchange that followed.

Our future looks brighter when students are encouraged to think critically about the environmental challenges facing South Florida and explore how communication, science, and collaboration can help shape practical solutions.

R4R's Students for Resilience initiative continues to grow by engaging students through:

• mentorship

• project collaboration

• internships

• community engagement

• exposure to scientists, engineers, professors, and environmental professionals

These conversations matter — because informed communities are resilient communities,

and the next generation has an important role to play in shaping that future.

Thank you again to FIU for welcoming R4R into these important conversations!

Congratulations to Broward County on another outstanding

Water Matters Day at Tree Tops Park —

A wonderful reminder of how much meaningful work is happening across our region

in support of water conservation, nature-based solutions, and long-term resilience.

A special thank you to Jennifer Jurado, Gregory Mount, and the Broward County’s resilience team for helping make this annual event such a success. It was encouraging to see so many municipalities, civic leaders, students, educators, and community partners come together around this year’s theme: “Reclaim Water, Regrow Nature.”

It was also wonderful to see Broward leaders including Commissioners Nan Rich, Beam Furr, Robert McKinzie, and Steve Geller present in support of this important event and the County’s continued focus on water conservation and nature-based resilience.

The event beautifully highlighted how green infrastructure — including rain gardens, wetlands, tree canopies, and Florida-friendly landscapes — can help mimic natural hydrology, reduce runoff, recharge groundwater, and improve water quality while strengthening community resilience.

It was especially meaningful to thank Commissioners Beam Furr and Nan Rich, for their strong support for nature. A Big THANK YOU goes out to all of the County Commissioners who unanimously voted 8–0 in favor of protecting the mangroves in the Dania Beach Mangrove vs Warehouse discussion!

I also appreciated the chance to share ideas with Alec Bogdanoff of Brizaga regarding possible collaborative efforts, and it was wonderful catching up with our friends from the Sierra Club and Hollywood Resiliency Team's Elaine Franklin who continue doing such important environmental work.

One of the most encouraging parts of the day was seeing students, teachers, and schools recognized for their outstanding work through Broward County’s infographic challenge and NatureScape awards — a reminder that our future looks brighter when young people are actively engaged in understanding and protecting our natural resources.

Events like this help reinforce an important truth: nature-based solutions are not optional extras — they are part of the long-term resilience strategy South Florida needs.