Alma Bowen Email and Phone Number

After serving Sonoma County as a 9-1-1 emergency services dispatcher for over 17 years Alma’s desire to educate the general public on the effective use the 9-1-1 emergency response system, disaster preparedness, and her focus on inclusion of the Spanish-speaking community, led to creating the non-profit public benefit organization ‘Nuestra Comunidad’. Nuestra Comunidad’ (NC) passionately believes in improving the health, safety and well-being of our community. Our mission is to equip the public with vital information, and hands on training in effectively utilizing the 9-1-1 emergency response system, preparing for natural disasters, and promoting personal safety. During an emergency seconds matter; being knowledgeable and prepared can make all the difference. The educational forums delivered by NC, in both English & Spanish, provide vital information to communities about how the 9-1-1 system works, what to expect when the system is activated, and how the public can help first responders better serve them. Our goal is to promote meaningful discussions about experiences, beliefs, fears, and barriers of the 9-1-1 system. Having these discussions are critical in developing a bridge between the public and first responders, particularly those in underserved communities. An accurate understanding of the emergency response system will promote the publics’ confidence to activate the system when the potential for survival is dependent upon an immediate emergency response. Additional to 9-1-1 education, NC provides disaster preparedness training. The 2017 wildfires taught us that disaster preparedness is a shared responsibility. Every disaster has lasting effects to people and property. Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. By increasing the number of community members that are prepared for the next big natural disaster, Nuestra Comunidad is decreasing the overall vulnerability of the community.