Epic Days- Disaster Prevention Scenarios & Simulations
The program combines strategies from community organization, social work, group psychology, emergency management and youth empowerment. The day-long events are custom designed for every community and the disaster threats present in the region. The day begins with run around games and activities to increase the energy and build relationships. As the day continues, participants are educated about the environmental concerns, natural disasters and social justice issues in their community.
The day culminates in a very powerful set of experiences that allow students and adults to wake up to realize that they have all been through very similar struggles, or personal disasters. Most people can relate to the loss of a loved one, a divorce, a disease or illness, the ending of a relationship, a racist or sexist act of aggression, bullying, violence, a time of depression or an actual natural disaster. By helping people to experience a collective realization of their shared pain, they are able to gain a sense of the shock experienced in a disaster. They are able to develop skills and capacity needed to support others during the Mitigation/Response process. At the same time, this prevention program decreases bullying, violence, substance abuse and suicide in communities even if a natural disaster is never experienced.
Post disaster, the Epic Day format is then used as a type of community-based ceremony in the Recovery process. By highlighting acts of sacrifice, heroism, resilience, unity and cooperation during and after the disaster, Epic Days help people develop a Culture of Resiliency, instead of a Culture of Victimhood.
The program combines strategies from community organization, social work, group psychology, emergency management and youth empowerment. The day-long events are custom designed for every community and the disaster threats present in the region. The day begins with run around games and activities to increase the energy and build relationships. As the day continues, participants are educated about the environmental concerns, natural disasters and social justice issues in their community.
The day culminates in a very powerful set of experiences that allow students and adults to wake up to realize that they have all been through very similar struggles, or personal disasters. Most people can relate to the loss of a loved one, a divorce, a disease or illness, the ending of a relationship, a racist or sexist act of aggression, bullying, violence, a time of depression or an actual natural disaster. By helping people to experience a collective realization of their shared pain, they are able to gain a sense of the shock experienced in a disaster. They are able to develop skills and capacity needed to support others during the Mitigation/Response process. At the same time, this prevention program decreases bullying, violence, substance abuse and suicide in communities even if a natural disaster is never experienced.
Post disaster, the Epic Day format is then used as a type of community-based ceremony in the Recovery process. By highlighting acts of sacrifice, heroism, resilience, unity and cooperation during and after the disaster, Epic Days help people develop a Culture of Resiliency, instead of a Culture of Victimhood.