Jada Allen (Lumbee Tribe) is tackling one of the most pressing challenges facing Native communities—climate-driven natural disasters. Through her Earth Ambassador platform, she is creating workshops for Lumbee and other Native youth in North Carolina that focus on disaster preparedness and resilience. “Participants would learn how to create emergency plans, assemble disaster kits, and develop evacuation and flood mitigation strategies,” she explained.
Her workshops will address not only immediate survival but also long-term community resilience. “By combining environmental education with practical preparedness and advocacy, this project will strengthen the Lumbee and other North Carolina tribal communities’ ability to protect their land, homes, and health,” Jada said.
This month, Jada celebrated a milestone achievement. “On August 12th, I was awarded the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) Democracy is Indigenous micro-grant for a total of $1,800,” she shared. In partnership with the North Carolina Native American Youth Organization (NCNAYO), she will host the workshop Climate Resilient Nations: Protecting Our Homelands & Communities on January 24th, where an estimated 60 Native youth will learn how to strengthen their communities against climate threats. Jada has already been meeting with NCNAYO representatives to process funds, finalize logistics, and coordinate action items for the event.
Her leadership also extends into her role with the Community Organized Response Effort (CORE). On August 18–19, she presented at CORE’s annual youth camp in collaboration with the Public Schools of Robeson County, where she trained students working toward Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certification. “I taught the youth about community-level vulnerabilities in a time of crisis and how long-term planning through civic engagement can help eliminate those vulnerabilities,” Jada explained. She also facilitated a simulation that strengthened problem-solving, conflict resolution, and empathy skills—key lessons for the next generation of community leaders. Read more in the Robesonian here.
On August 27th, Jada was accepted as an American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Professional Poster Presentee for her research as a THESIS Intern with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board. She will attend AISES not only as a presenter but also as a member of the Firewall Cybersecurity Cohort, adding another dimension to her growing expertise in policy and resilience work.
Looking ahead, Jada is preparing to apply for law school, setting a clear timeline to complete applications by late October. “I’ve been studying for the LSAT, drafting my personal statement, and mapping out my applications,” she said. Grounded in both her professional goals and her cultural traditions, Jada has also taken time this season to enjoy muscadine and scuppernong grapes with her family—a fruit native to the southeast that connects her to place and kinship.
“For as long as I can remember, my family has spent August and September harvesting these grapes,” she reflected. “For decades, the same few vines have nourished us, body and spirit. It’s one of my annual reminders of how generous Mother Earth is. In asking myself how I can embody that same generosity in the way I live my life, I’m always left humbled.”
Through all these experiences, Jada remains rooted in her Earth Ambassador platform, which bridges environmental justice with practical action. “By combining environmental education with practical preparedness and advocacy, this project will strengthen the Lumbee and other North Carolina tribal communities’ ability to protect their land, homes, and health,” she emphasized. Whether leading disaster preparedness workshops, presenting research on national stages, or preparing for a future in law, Jada is showing how Native youth can turn vision into resilience for generations to come.