Since 2017, NWF’s Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program has educated thousands of middle and high school students about climate science, climate impacts, environmental justice, and nature-based resiliency solutions while providing
hands-on technical skills through collabora-tions with local experts and organizations.
Thousands of teachers have received curricula, learning resources, professional development and support.
RiSC connects schools with community members and partners to identify and solve real-world problems exacerbated by climate change. The RiSC program was launched in New York City and has been adapted in New Jersey, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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At each of these locations, students have implemented projects and gained the knowledge to address a local need. In New York City, students are planting beachgrass in a shoreline park to protect residents from sand migration, erosion, and flooding. In New Jersey, students interviewed local businesses to learn how extreme weather had impacted them and shared their findings with local elected officials. In Texas, students planted trees and created rain gardens and pocket prairies to absorb stormwater. In Puerto Rico, students learned about the role of mangroves in protecting island communities from coastal storms. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, students created an emergency preparedness plan for their school.
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RiSC equips students with the tools, motivation, and confidence to take an active role in building more resilient and environ-mentally just communities.
In May 2023, the RiSC program was named the winner of FEMA's Cooperating Technical Partners Recognition Program Award for "outstanding efforts to increase risk awareness." In 2025, RiSC was recognized by Rebuild by Design as one of 24 "Built to Inspire" programs in NY state.
Check out our new standardized RiSC curriculum, aligned to NGSS standards, released in March 2026.
Request a Spanish version of the curriculum from our partners at Organizacion Pro Ambiente Sustentable (OPAS) in Puerto Rico.​
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Read more about Risc
RiSC program Team
Emily Alix Fano, M.A.
Director, Climate Education
National Wildlife Federation
Emily Fano is the Director of the RiSC program. In this role she leads on program design, partnerships, adaptations, fundraising, and co-designs curricula, professional learning workshops and special events. She also convenes the Climate and Resilience Education Task Force in partnership with community volunteers. The Task Force is comprised of students, educators, parents, NGOs, and policymakers working to expand access to interdisciplinary, justice-centered climate education in New York.
Abby Jordan, M.P.A
Program Manager, Climate Education
National Wildlife Federation
Abby Jordan is a Brighton Beach, Brooklyn native and a first generation Salvadoran American with an academic and work background in community organizing and environmental justice. Abby is passionate about helping educate youth about climate science and building resilient coastal communities. She manages the RiSC program and also facilitates NWF’s Climate & Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF) Youth Steering Committee (YSC). She was previously the Parent Coordinator at Liberation Diploma Plus High School, a small public transfer high school in Coney Island, where she helped students and families navigate their academic journeys. A former Fullbright scholar, she earned a Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy through the Columbia Climate School and School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Abby is a long time volunteer and advisory board member with the Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). She swims in the ocean waters off Southern Brooklyn year round and is an ocean advocate. In April 2026, she was appointed to serve on Brooklyn’s Community Board 13.
Alexandra Kanonik, B.A.
Executive Director
American Littoral Society, Northeast Chapter
Alexandra holds a B.A. in Biology from Eckerd College in Florida. She educates people about New York's marine environment and works on ecological restoration projects in Jamaica Bay, Queens and beyond to benefit wildlife and people. Alexandra is passionate about coastal conservation. In addition to co-leading RiSC educational field trips at Coney Island Creek Park, and assisting with Spring beach grass plantings and public events, she leads annual NY State Beach Cleanup events across New York.
Brett F. Branco, Ph.D. (Program Advisor)
Executive Director
Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay (SRIJB)
Brett Branco is a marine scientist and was the Principal Investigator for the RiSC 1.0 project. As the Executive Director of SRIJB, and Co-Chair of SRIJB's Research Council, Brett provides science and resilience expertise to the RiSC project team and helps connect the project to resilience planning action in New York City.