The meeting kicked off with a day of service in conjunction with some of the B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief partners that are still active in Puerto Rico, including José Andrés’s charity, the World Central Kitchen. Participants on the trip also learned from our affordable senior housing colleagues in Puerto Rico how to prepare if a large-scale disaster were to happen in your community, including presentations from the Red Cross and staff from the largest hospital system in Puerto Rico. 

Additionally, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sent staff to participate in our panels. CSS staff members facilitated interactive discussions with professionals from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts in the affordable senior housing industry, as well.

Holding the meeting in Puerto Rico served as a way for B’nai B’rith International to help continue the long-term recovery of the island, beyond assisting with disaster relief. As a bonus, the meeting gave the CSS staff a chance to help our own senior housing building affiliates develop their emergency preparedness if and when disaster strikes.