HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0279.026 2022-2024 P / aoEAc
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VIBRANT Gomm. vet
HAWAI ' I
May 15, 2023
RE: Bill 48: Creation of the Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity, and Resilience as,
Aloha Members fo the Government Operations and External Affairs Committee,
Vibrant Hawai'i is a community building organization that was formed in 2018 to advance equity an` ')
agency for all Hawai'i Island residents. Our goal is to create conditions to awaken and exercise kuleana,
dismantle silos, and raise our collective will to take action together. Vibrant Hawai`i recognizes 'aina as
our ancestor and we recognize that aloha is an action modeled to us by our environment and we validate
its aloha through aloha 'aina, and our willingness to suffer a little so that no one has to suffer a lot.
Guided by the Collective Impact and Asset Based Community Development frameworks, our focus on
Equity and Resilience had been demonstrated since 2020, and we have since channelled nearly$6MM in
funding and resources through a network of over 40 community led Resilience Hubs. We have
demonstrated consistency as a convener for cross sector collaboration, and in 2022 counted $82,278 of
in-kind volunteer hours through stakeholders representing every district, generation, and sector of our
island through their engagement through our Streams and Core Teams.
We strongly support Bill 38 and the creation of the Office of Sustainaiblity, Climate, Equity, and Resilience.
We believe that establishing this office can help to streamline access to resources for our community and
aid in ensuring timely development of pathways such as contracts and Requests for Proposals so that
funding received by the County for the purpose of increasing equity and resilience in communities can get
out to communities in a timely manner.
We support the priorities of Bill 38 and its focus on lower-and middle-income individuals and historically
marginalized groups, and intended formation based on the principles of collective impact, and have
experienced the outcomes possible when community comes together across districts and sectors to
inform, design, and participate in the execution of plans.
In conclusion, we hope you will join us in supporting Bill 48, and we look forward to partnering with the
County to reach the intended goals of the Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity,and Resilience.
Na`u me ka 'oia'i'o,
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Na Janice Ikeda
Executive Director
Comm. No. ��-1
Ref. To: P '�0
Ref. Date MAY 1 6 2023