I support FEMA RMD with their communications around Future Conditions (including, climate change, population patterns, and land use and community development). I lead communications, outreach, and engagement consult to ensure that as communities across the country become more and more impacted by climate change (and other related effects) - they can find both resources and the confidence to pivot from the status quo. In this pivot, communities make better (and new) decisions to ensure a more resilient future for ALL members of their community.

As Co-Founder of Greyspace Collective, Jeana demonstrates a passion and purpose for working at the intersection of resilience and preservation. She advocates for communities through innovative solutions and creative-thinking that place people, their histories, and community assets at the resilience table. Motivated by the belief that old buildings are often essential ingredients for supporting culturally rich (and resilient) communities, Jeana integrates place, culture and exposure throughout her professional practice. Based in New Orleans, Jeana has worked nationally and internationally for 8+ years, building coalitions and weaving together a network of community leaders, practitioners, and experts actively addressing the future of climate and disaster-vulnerable communities.Led an integrated and multi-disciplinary team to develop and implement a plan to survey coastal Louisiana’s most vulnerable and climate and disaster-impacted cultural resources and historic assets.Co-leading the building of an online platform [Rising Up to Rising Tides] to connect under-resourced water-based communities, experiencing sea level rise and climate change impacts, with experts in the fields of historic preservation, cultural heritage, architecture, climate science, and anthropology. Co-developed a timely hurricane season preparedness guide with New Orleans-based team, Water Works.Contributed to a nationally published blog series on social justice and historic preservation, led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Organize and convene intersectional dialogue to engage in relevant issues facing New Orleans, coastal Louisiana, and other coastal/frontline communities and the ability to survive/thrive. Bring local Louisiana-based filmmakers and their films to the community to explore socially and contextually relevant issues, through film -- and equalizing tool to remove barriers to participation.Lead network and outreach with a diverse range of locally-based organizations and efforts that directly support the existing local community (i.e. performance-based art exploring social issues, affordable housing for all, resilience-building, community wealth building, local/slow food, etc.).Establish methodology for documenting the success of community event and workshop results/outcomes for distribution and to cultivate interest for ensuring future participation and funding.

As Regional Sustainability Director for LifeCity, I leveraged my passion for people, place, and sustainability to lead Value Louisiana – LifeCity’s for-benefit development initiative — to cultivate a sea-change in New Orleans’ economic foundation towards greater priority for measuring and valuing impact as a core economic development strategy. I worked across all sectors in New Orleans to engage leaders in identifying common goals and strategies to invoke local change. Led a collaborative of 15+ sustainability professionals to develop an integrated, cross-sector sustainability vision and platform for the future of New Orleans, and to inform local election platforms and priorities.Coordinated a regional network of sustainability and impact service providers to facilitate systemic change towards implementation of social and environmental impact projects and business practices.Provided impact consulting for corporate, local business, and community organizations in the Greater New Orleans region.

As Resilient Communities Senior Manager for the Preservation Green Lab, I worked at the intersection of old buildings, community, and resilience to communicate and demonstrate the role that older buildings have in meeting the current and future needs of local communities and urban neighborhoods. I advocated for communities through policies, incentives, and creative-thinking. Co-led a multi-year neighborhood revitalization planning effort in Little Havana, Miami, in collaboration with local urban design, local government, and non-profit partners.Community engagement and partnership lead for a three-year Department of Energy funded R&D project, America Saves, to support increased energy efficiency for small businesses across the country. Steering committee member for inaugural “Keeping History Above Water” conference to develop stronger expertise and networks to support the relationship between historic buildings/communities and climate and disaster impacts.Established a new international network and working coalition of cultural heritage, historic preservation, and climate change professionals to collectively advocate for policies and projects to support the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage resources.Ongoing development of a new organizational climate change and disaster resilience strategy and program.Structured a pilot sustainability district framework for the City of Louisville, alongside local government and non-profit partners, to support small business district-based sustainability goals and projects.Packaged a holistic set of energy efficiency and sustainability resources for small businesses throughout the city of Detroit, in partnership with local non-profits and in support of broad building reuse goals.Developed an integrative local demonstration project in Galveston, TX to meet the challenges of climate change, sea level rise, and increasing storms and impact on vulnerable older and historic structures.

Performed lead research and report writing for an innovative statewide, multi-jurisdictional planning project: “Project Safe Haven: Vertical Evacuation on the Washington Coast.” Administered regional outreach to identify stakeholders and plan vertical evacuation public meetings. Led public stakeholder meetings on the Washington Coast using World Café conversational method and design charrettes, among other innovative community engagement techniques. Created and maintained the Project Safe Haven social media and website for outreach and communication.