Planning Ahead Announces Strategic Partnerships with the CO2 Foundation and NC State University’s Center for Human Health and the Environment (CHHE)

Durham, North Carolina — November 2025

Planning Ahead is proud to announce two strategic partnerships that advance our mission to strengthen community resilience and environmental health across North Carolina. We are partnering with the CO₂ Foundation, a national philanthropic organization dedicated to equitable climate action, and NC State University’s Center for Human Health and the Environment (CHHE), a leading research center supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Together, we are implementing From Crisis to Readiness, a year-long project designed to reduce preventable health risks associated with extreme heat and flooding in Durham and Raleigh. The initiative will:

• Educate 150 residents in climate-vulnerable neighborhoods through workshops on heat, flooding, and household preparedness.

• Distribute 150 resilience toolkits with essential cooling and safety supplies.

• Co-create community resource maps for emergency readiness.

• Develop and share an open-source Community Preparedness Guide to support replication across North Carolina.

The CO₂ Foundation’s support empowers Planning Ahead to expand its equity-centered climate resilience model, while CHHE’s research partnership ensures scientific rigor and data-driven evaluation of health outcomes. Findings from this collaboration will contribute to statewide studies on climate and public health, strengthening evidence-based approaches to community adaptation.

“These partnerships represent the future of community-driven resilience—where local knowledge, scientific evidence, and justice-centered design come together to protect people and planet,” said Keshi Satterwhite, Executive Director of Planning Ahead.

About Planning Ahead

Planning Ahead is a Durham-based nonprofit that equips under-resourced communities with the knowledge, tools, and networks to lead in building resilience to environmental challenges. Our work integrates environmental education, workforce development, and community leadership to ensure that those most affected by climate change are also at the forefront of developing solutions.