by Whitney Lee, Auburn University and Kathleen Kirkpatrick, The Capacity Collaborative

January 13, 2025


Partnering in a Time of Turmoil

In 2023, Dr. Megan LaFrombois of Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture was approached by Kathleen Kirkpatrick of The Capacity Collaborative and Warren Tidwell of the local non-profit Alabama Center for Rural Organizing and Systemic Solutions (ACROSS) about the opportunity for Master of Community Planning (MCP) students to assist with the development of a resilience plan for the town of Camp Hill, Alabama.

Camp Hill, a rural town of approximately 1,000 residents, was devastated in March 2023 by one of the worst hailstorms in US history, destroying hundreds of roofs and totaling ninety percent of residents’ cars. The storm left a path of destruction across the community, already navigating limited access to grocery stores, healthcare services, and educational resources. The storm intensified existing vulnerabilities, including limited infrastructure and concerns about gentrification threatening to overcome the small town. In addition, many residents lack formal deeds (known as heirs-properties), complicating recovery efforts and putting the community’s resiliency to the test.

ACROSS was born in the aftermath of an unimaginable tragedy that occurred on April 15 – only days after the hailstorm in Camp Hill – when many in the town were victims of a mass shooting that killed four and injured nearly forty people, including some who had been displaced by the storm. Volunteers on the ground resolved to see the long-term recovery through, even though they knew it was going to be a multi-year affair. They formed ACROSS to take on a myriad of issues in Alabama, with the primary mission being organized around the climate disaster they had just experienced.

MCP students hosting a community engagement event for residence at Mt. Lovely. Residence had an opportunity to engage in asset mapping exercises.

With much of the hailstorm crisis response efforts underway, ACROSS sought long-term solutions and saw an opportunity to collaborate with second-year students from Auburn’s Synthesis Studio on a community-wide stakeholder engagement effort. The students engaged in a rigorous, firsthand process that demanded both skill and sensitivity. This experience served as the equivalent of their thesis, challenging them to synthesize and apply their academic learning in real-world contexts marked by environmental, social, and economic pressures.

ACROSS and Auburn also partnered with the Capacity Collaborative (CC) to design and build the community’s resiliency plan. CC is based in Oakland, California, and works in service of the gaping need to build capacity with and for rural and small communities impacted by poverty, neglect, and racism. The organization was established to provide a full range of expertise in service to environmental justice communities across the United States and East Africa. Through decades of grassroots engagement and organizing, CC and their partners help communities protect the environment while building and catalyzing local capacity with tools and technical assistance to foster leadership, managerial, financial, and communications skills. Kathleen, an environmental engineer and sustainability professional based in Alabama, joined the CC team in 2022 to support more connections in the Southeastern U.S.

After extensive conversations with community leaders and residents, ACROSS, CC, and the students established a framework for the resilience plan. This plan would not only serve as a learning experience for students but also provide the Camp Hill community with actionable and sustainable strategies.

 

Just Communities: Community-Driven Community Planning

Early in collaboration with Auburn’s MCP students, Kathleen recognized the potential for the recently launched Just Communities Protocol to inform the students’ work in Camp Hill. The Protocol is designed to specifically address issues of racial equity and climate resilience for communities like Camp Hill that were suffering from long-standing issues of racial inequity and devastating recent impacts from the climate-change-driven hailstorm. Several of the Auburn students have since gained Just Communities practitioner accreditation (AP) and were able to put the Protocol to work in Camp Hill and their careers.

The Camp Hill Team: Front, left to right: Karington Allen, Whitney Lee, and Alyssa Albrecht. Back, left to right: Tianshi Xu, Emily Hawkins, Kayla Chase, Riley Dibble, and Casidhe Shetter

The eight AU MCP students embarked on the ambitious goal of building Camp Hill’s resilience plan grounded in sustainability, justice, and equality. Key objectives included:

  • Improving Quality of Life: Strategies were developed to enhance the overall well-being of local residents.
  • Addressing Persistent Stressors: The plan assessed vulnerabilities and leveraged community strengths.
  • Preventing Displacement: Proactive measures were included to help residents remain in their homes.
  • Engaging the Community: Through participatory processes, residents contributed to and shaped the planning process.

A robust community engagement effort was a core component of developing the town’s resilience plan. Students conducted regular fieldwork, organizing a series of three community events where residents voiced their concerns and ideas through interactive activities. The students’ work culminated in a final presentation, sharing recommendations and providing a tangible product that the Camp Hill community could utilize for future planning.

 

Bridging Resilience and Community Connection: Lessons from Camp Hill

Over the course of developing the Camp Hill resiliency plan, the students gained new insights and lessons to be applied to their work as urban and community planners. Through the Camp Hill project, the project team learned the importance of active listening to align the resilience plan with the community’s expressed needs. It was about meeting people where they are—physically, emotionally, and culturally—to co-create solutions that are both viable and reflective of their lived experiences. This mindset allowed them to bridge gaps and build trust.

The project team’s engagement in Camp Hill was seeded months in advance, by creating a Community Day event, partnering with local organizations such as Lee County Literacy, O-Grow, and Women in Nonprofit Foundation, which donated toys. Additional contributions of food and space turned the event into a celebration of unity and collaboration and created a space for authentic dialogue. By going beyond the classroom, the team collected over 60 surveys, ensuring every voice mattered while fostering genuine connections.

The deep engagement efforts also resulted in deepening local relationships and trust. The day after the Community Day event, members of the team were invited to attend church with the residents, an invitation that underscored the importance of gratitude and hospitality and growing trusted relationships outside of a traditional transactional engagement process. The community’s openness, generosity, and willingness to work towards shared goals demonstrated the potential for success that is possible when community is met where they are with good faith by a project team.

 

“The journey of resilience planning for Camp Hill was not only a professional milestone but also a deeply personal and transformative experience for me as a graduate student in Auburn University’s Master of Community Planning program. This effort showcased how active listening, authentic engagement, and community partnership form the bedrock of meaningful change.”  – Whitney Lee, Just Communities AP

 

The Culmination: An Award-Winning Plan

In October 2024, the student team’s hard work was recognized at the Alabama and Mississippi Planning Conference in Tuscaloosa, AL, where the Camp Hill Resilience Plan received a distinguished award. This honor validated the collaborative effort and innovative strategies that were implemented to address the unique challenges of this rural community.

The Camp Hill resiliency plan validated the value of the Just Communities Protocol, demonstrating how equity and resilience are linked and can be effectively addressed through collaborative, community-driven efforts. It is a testament to the transformative power of partnerships that prioritize the voices, wisdom, and power of those often overlooked. Camp Hill taught the project team that resilience is a shared journey, and that community planning is not just about projects and physical regeneration, but about people’s faith, determination, and resolve in the face of tragedy.

Camp Hill Community Day Event marked the one-year anniversary of the hail storm.

Camp Hill’s journey reminds us that resilience is not achieved alone. It is through partnerships—both organic and strategic—that resource-limited communities can address pressing challenges and build a foundation for sustainable growth. By embracing collaborative opportunities, implementing Just Communities principles, and reaching out for technical assistance, communities can forge pathways to equity and vitality, ensuring their futures are as vibrant as their histories. Let us build stronger communities together, one partnership at a time.

 

Advice From the Team

As the Camp Hill team wrapped up their work, we reflected on key actions and ideas that communities should consider when developing their own Just Communities efforts.

Technical Assistance Matters
Technical assistance enables communities to access expertise and tools often unavailable within local resources. These partnerships can:

  • Save Costs: Donated time and expertise from agencies or academic institutions reduce financial burdens.
  • Enhance Capacity: Provide specialized knowledge, such as demographic analysis or housing assessments, that informs sustainable decision-making.
  • Promote Equity: Facilitate inclusive community engagement, ensuring all voices are heard.

Seek Partnerships
Communities that are resource constrained need to think creatively about broadening partnerships that fill knowledge and network gaps. Key recommendations include:

  • Build Organic Relationships: Cultivate trust-based partnerships with organizations aligned with community values and needs and focus on systemic solutions and capacity-building.
  • Seek Strategic Alliances: Partner with institutions like universities, nonprofits, or regional agencies that can bring funding, technical skills, or policy advocacy to the table. Many programs, like Auburn University’s Synthesis Studio, offer practical learning opportunities that align with community needs.
  • Make the Case: Highlight mutual benefits, such as opportunities for organizations to demonstrate corporate social responsibility or gain practical experience.
  • Engage Proactively: Involve residents from the start, ensuring their insights and priorities shape the partnership’s goals.

Fundraise Creatively
Most communities lack access to funding for resiliency planning and community engagement. Opportunities for funding include:

  • Utilize Grants: Leverage grant programs requiring partnerships, such as those in infrastructure development or disaster recovery. Contact area or state-wide foundations to seek support and guidance.
  • Explore Pro Bono Services: Many agencies, such as planning firms, universities, professional associations, or legal organizations, may donate services for projects with meaningful social impact.

 

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