ViequesLove Annual Report 2021

VIEQUESLOVE

ANNUAL REPORT

2021

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Hurricane Maria, ViequesLove has become

VIEQUESLOVE

Since its formation in 2017 on the night of

Puerto Rico, the organization is dedicated

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an impactful force in mitigating risk due to adverse situations such as hurricanes, a pandemic, and lack of access to basic resources for health and safety. A federal 501(c)3 nonprofit, registered in both Pennsylvania and to “a resilient, sustainable island prepared for the uncertain future”.

FROM OUR PRESIDENT I’m grateful for your involvement and support of ViequesLove in 2021.

Covid-19 remains the single most crucial current disaster issue on the island. The spread of covid was controlled by the ViequesLove originated Contact Tracing Team throughout the year. Dayanara Cruz Maldonado, VL’s Community organizer, remains the administrator for the Contact Tracing Team. 78% of the Vieques population has been vaccinated with the active help of ViequesLove coordination. The Omicron variant brought an uptick in cases just as the 2022 tourist season began. Fortunately, the cases have been milder, and our medical personnel have access to monoclonal antibodies.

Street Naming and Asset Mapping under the direction of Paul Lutton, VL Vice President, made progress with new part-time staff in place.

Both projects are working in coordination with the local government and other not-for-profits. It is our hope that 2022 will mark the completion of several phases of these projects.

PREPAREDN RESILIENC SUSTAINABI .......

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Vieques Mayor José (Junito) Corcino convened emergency coordinating teams in a timely fashion during the hurricane season showing that the government emergency plans are better prepared should a hurricane hit our island.

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Vieques now has a multi-level emergency communication system and more trained personnel than ever before. Mark Martin Bras, our Head of Community Relations, continues to be an active participant representing ViequesLove on every important official coordinating disaster committee.

Preparaci Resilienci Sustentabili .......

Our 2021 income exceeded our expenses by a small amount, allowWWW.VIEQUESLO ing VL to enter 2022 with our financial reserve intact. We anticipate 501C3 NONPR fiscal stability for another year of operation. Thank you for believing in ViequesLove.

Elaine Heumann Gurian, President ViequesLove

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OUR MISSION

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To initiate, support, coordinate and implement sustainable community development programs and to foster collaboration with groups and individuals working to improve the quality of life for residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico

OUR VISION

- An island organized and prepared for any disaster - A resilient and sustainable community - Collaboration, communication - Community organizations cooperating toward common goals - Empowered citizens with increased opportunity

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2 0 2 1 AT A G L A N C E

Awarded $10,000 technology grant to create digital platform to map & manage critical resources.

LAYE RS

C HU RC HE S

DATA E NT RI E S

ACQUIRED

BETA M AP

N GOS

Co n n e c te d

w i th a d d i ti o n a l h a rd wa re a n d repeaters fo r ra di o co m mu n i c ati o n .

additional radios added to the

Radio Aficionados communication network.

2 representatives on Contact Tracing Team

Purchased

adapters

and filters that fit the selfcontained breathing apparatus mask for the fire fighters COUNTLESS connections made for supplies and partnerships

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BUSIN E S SE S

VIEQUESLOVE

Official representation in groups for preparedness and advocacy

SURVEYED TO DATE

ASSET MAPPING PROJECT

of the Vieques Population Vaccinated We have surveyed and locals have selected names for nearly 140 streets. Approximately 100 have been submitted to the municipio for approval. We have 2 groups of 2 Viequenses going door to door and consulting with historians every week.

CONSTANT representation and advocacy for Vieques

CAREFUL planning of systematic tools for resilience

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OUR PROGRAM

CAPACITY BUILDING

Preparedness + resilience

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ADVOCACY + REPRESENTATION

COLLABORATION

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RISK MITIGATION

2021

2 0 2 1 PROJECTS ViequesLove takes lessons learned from obstacles or

Covid 19 Pandemic Asset Mapping Project #ViequesNombraSusCalles Representation + Preparedness

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solutions to reduce risk to the community.

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hardship during crisis events and develops tools and

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P R OJ E C T H I G H L I G H T

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OBSTACLE: Covid 19 Pandemic

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SOLUTION [PROJECT]: Education, Collaboration, Support to Vaccine Events ViequesLove was an integral part of the vaccination events that provided vaccines and boosters to over 78% of the population in early 2021. Support and collaboration provided to the National Guard, Dept. of Health, Fajardo Group Practice, Emergency Management, and the Covid Contract Tracing Team by ViequesLove was critical to the success of the events.

OBSTACLE: Communication Blackout after Disaster SOLUTION [PROJECT]: Radio Network Support ViequesLove continues to add equipment to boost the range and network of the island’s communication system.

Antennas and repeaters were added to existing HAM and MURS radio net connecting even more of the island.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT

VIEQUESLOVE

SOLUTION [PROJECT]: Asset Mapping Project After Hurricane Maria, Vieques was cut off from the rest of the world leaving the island without electricity, water, transportation, fuel, and communications. Many obstacles presented themselves showing where failures or inefficiencies in our infrastructure existed. The Asset Mapping Project surveys organizations and maps the applicable emergencyrelated resources of all NGOs, churches, agencies, schools, businesses, and key individuals to better allocate assets, and to manage and define roles in any upcoming crisis situation.

ViequesLove has received a technology grant in the amount of $10,000 to develop a digital application that will allow the data to be accessible, updated, and managed in a multiuser online map and associated database. An additional $25,000 will be required to complete the implementation.

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OBSTACLE: Lack of knowledge of Resources & Roles during an Emergency and of Capacity during an Emergency

goal: $45,000

$10,000 TECH GRANT

$35,000 TO RAISE

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHT

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OBSTACLE: Emergency Management & Relief Efforts hindered by Lack of street names SOLUTION [PROJECT]: Street Naming Project / Vieques Nombra Sus Calles A GIS map was created with a system assigning two-character codes to every street and numbers to houses to provide a temporary address, while implementing a resident-based initiative to name over 200 unnamed streets. The project, Vieques Nombra Sus Calles, provides and coordinates a participatory mechanism utilizing local historians to assist residents in selecting names that reflect the culture, history, and ecology of the location through Viequense door-todoor canvassers. This is financed by a $25,000 grant. Approximately $65,000 more will be required to procure and install street signs.

goal: $85,000

$25,000 TECH GRANT

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$65,000 TO RAISE

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT

- Official member of the National VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) - One of two elected NGOs to serve on the Vieques COE (Municipal Center of Emergency Operations) - Leader of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) - Official volunteer member with Vieques Emergency Management - Supporter and participant of the Radio Communications Network - Member of CANVAS advocacy group for disaster recovery and resilience

VIEQUESLOVE

SOLUTION [PROJECT]: Representation, Advocacy & Collaboration for Year-round Preparedness

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OBSTACLE: Lack of Organized Representation in Preparedness and Response Groups

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2021

2021

SOURCES OF FUNDS TOTAL $225,984 . 49

USES OF FUNDS TOTAL $2 01 ,1 5 6.72

$179,984.49

$6,811.62

PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS

4.3%

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79.6%

FUNDRAISING

$118,576.29 $25,000 $21,000 12

GRANTS AND CONTRACTS 9.3%

FOUNDATIONS

11.1%

$75,768.81

PROGRAMS 58.9%

ADMINISTRATION

37.6%

2021 PROGRAMS TOTA L $118,576.29

$2,208.14

ASSET MAPPING

1.9%

$12,810.98

$18,477.56

COVID RESPONSE 15.6%

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STREET NAMING 10.8%

$32,809.52

DISASTER/ EMERGENCY 27.7%

$52,270.09

COMMUNITY/ NGO SUPPORT/ EDUCATION 44.1%

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O U R B OA R D

Jorge Fernandez Porto

Chairman

Elaine Heumann Gurian

Paul Lutton

Mark Lichtenstein

President since 2018

Vice President since 2018

Treasurer since 2018

Pedro Ayala

Jose Carasquillo

Rio Tania Cruz

VIEQUESLOVE

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Claritza Navarro

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Alexis Pimentel

O U R S TA F F

Founder, Community Coordinator Director of Disaster Preparedness + Response

Kelly Thompson

Founder, Director of Marketing Donor Relations

Dayanara Cruz

Community Engagement Manager, Asset Mapping Project Manager

Carmen López Cotto

Chief Operations Officer

VIEQUESLOVE

Mark Martin Bras

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VIEQUESLOVE STAFF

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