Presented by Target Area in Partnership with BEWUN and 10,000 Fearless First Responders
COMMUNITY READY SUMMIT
Emergency Preparedness Training & Simulation
NOVEMBER 19ā20, 2026
Two days. Hands-on training. Realistic simulations.
Prioritize. Plan. Produce. & Protect US.
BEWUN is a coalition of everyday people, businesses, organizations, and institutions committed to protecting and strengthening Black American communities at home and the growing number abroad.
The goal is to unify our efforts in a way that compounds our collective capital, increases our impact, and allows us to prioritize US, plan for US, produce for US, and protect US.
About BEWUN
Built for US. By US
BEWUN is the system that powers a coalition of individuals, organizations, businesses, and institutions committed to advancing Black American life in the United States, and our growing numbers abroad.
There is no shortage of powerful work happening across our communities. People are building, leading, advocating, teaching, investing, and creating change every day. The gap is not effort; it's a system of coordination and communication.
We are not tapping into each other effectively or leveraging our collective strength fully. As a result, our impact is often fragmented instead of compounded.
BEWUN exists to change that.
Our Purpose
At its core, BEWUN operates through four principles:
Prioritize. Plan. Produce. & Protect US.
Prioritize US
By placing Black American life, progress, and sustainability at the center of decision-making across people, organizations, and institutions.
Plan for US
Through the creation of think tanks that develop intentional short and long-term strategies designed to strengthen our communities structurally, economically, and socially.
Produce for US
Using our collective capital to implement and execute plans that drive real, measurable outcomes, growth, resilience, and advancement.
Protect US
Through coordinated advocacy, governance, and defense to ensure that what we build is sustained, secured, and scaled.
BEWUN
Collective Care Network
(CCN)
The BEWUN Collective Care Network (CCN) is a neighborhood-based preparedness and mutual aid initiative that organizes residents into local zones where neighbors know one another, communicate regularly, share resources, and work together before, during, and after emergencies. Each zone builds an Emergency Action Plan tailored to the strengths, needs, and resources of its own community.
Gary Showed Us Whatās Possible
Thank You for Showing Up for Gary
When we organize our people, relationships, skills, and resources, we can respond to our communities in powerful ways.
A tremendous thank you to everyone who contributed money, supplies, time, relationships, transportation, labor, prayers, and love and to our partners and supporters:
*BEWUN Coalition
*United Afrikan Movement
*Black Lives Matter
*United Methodist Church ā Gary
*One Love Global ā Michigan
*National Block Club University ā Nationwide
*And the host of volunteers who showed up and served.
150+ Families Supported.
Everything was gone in two hours.
Atleast 150+ families were blessed with lunch provided by Arby's, groceries, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, water, hygiene products, flashlights, gas cards, and other essential items.
$3000 Direct Support.
Beyond supplies, $3,000 was placed directly into the hands of families to assist with bills and immediate needs
New Patnerships Build.
The response strengthened BEWUNās network and helped establish new partnerships in Indiana and Gary.
We. You. And I. US. We did that.
GET TO KNOW THE BEWUN Collective Care Network.
Learn how the BEWUN Collective Care Network connects neighbors, builds preparedness, and strengthens communities.
1.What is the BEWUN Collective Care Network?
The BEWUN Collective Care Network (CCN) is a neighborhood-based preparedness and mutual aid initiative that organizes residents into local zones where neighbors know one another, communicate regularly, share resources, and work together before, during, and after emergencies. Each zone builds an Emergency Action Plan tailored to the strengths, needs, and resources of its own community.
2.Why is it important?
Communities are strongest when neighbors are connected before a crisis occurs.
The Collective Care Network helps reduce isolation, strengthens relationships, and creates practical systems for communication, wellness checks, resource sharing, and emergency response.
By preparing together, neighborhoods become more resilient and better equipped to care for one another when traditional systems are delayed or overwhelmed
3.How does it work?
Residents are organized into geographic zones, ideally within a 15-minute radius of one another. Each zone meets regularly to:
*Get to know their neighbors
*Identify community strengths, skills, and resources
*Develop neighborhood communication plans
*Create emergency action and preparedness plans
*Build leadership through designated zone roles
*Coordinate mutual aid and community support
Every zone is connected to the larger BEWUN network, creating a citywide system of neighborhood-based Collective Care Networks
4..When is it used?
The Collective Care Network is active year-round. Zones meet regularly to build relationships, strengthen preparedness, and support community initiatives.
During emergencies, severe weather, power outages, public health events, or other community disruptions, zones activate their communication and response plans to check on neighbors, share information, coordinate resources, and support those who need assistance.
5.Where does it operate?
The BEWUN Collective Care Network currently serves communities throughout the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs in Illinois, with plans to expand to other cities and states across the country as the need arises.
Zones are formed when four or more people living within the same geographic area commit to building a neighborhood-based Collective Care Network.
Until enough residents are available to establish a new zone, individuals are connected with the nearest existing zone so they can begin building relationships, participating in planning, and strengthening their local community.
As membership grows, new zones are created to ensure neighbors are organized in a way that supports effective communication, collaboration, and mutual aid.
Monthly Community Meeting
A monthly community gathering where BEWUN members come together to connect, share skills and resources, strengthen preparedness, build mutual aid, and grow Collective Care across our Zones.
At our next gathering, we will report back on Zone progress, strengthen our maps and communication networks, identify gaps, and continue building our Collective Care Network across all 13 Zones.
To participate, Join the BEWUN Coalition to receive the meeting information and access details.
Next Community Meeting
Date :TBD
TIME
2:00ā5:00 PM
LOCATION
Virtual
COST
Completely free
BEWUN Training Series Is Back !!!
BEWUN will host a series of trainings October through December 2026, offering practical learning opportunities focused on emergency preparedness, collective care, and building stronger, more prepared households and communities.
Explore the upcoming sessions, learn more about each training, and register to participate.
Utility Band Monitoring & Emergency Communications
Tuesday, October 27 Ā· 5:30ā7:30 PM CST
Explore communication systems and tools that can help you receive information and communicate during emergencies.
Setting Up a Basic Two-Way Communications Station
Tuesday, November 3 Ā· 5:30ā7:30 PM CST
Learn the basic components needed to establish a two-way communications station for emergency and community use.
Mental Health Awareness & Recognition
Wednesday,November4 Ā·6:00ā7:00PM CST
Build greater awareness of common mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety, and learn how to recognize when someone may be experiencing increasing emotional or behavioral distress
Advanced Gunshot Wound First Response Workshop
Saturday, November 7 Ā· 12:00ā3:00 PM CST
Build upon foundational gunshot-wound first-response knowledge with more advanced emergency-response instruction and practical application.
Emergency Pantry Power
Sunday, November 8 Ā· 2:00-3:00PM CST
Learn simple ways to turn shelf-stable emergency foods into meals that are both nutritious and enjoyable.
Managing Stress: Understanding Your Stress Response
Wednesday, November 11 Ā· 6:00ā7:00PM CST
Explore four common stress responses and how they can show up in everyday life.Learn practical tools for responding to each stress pattern, with techniques designed to support greater calm, balance, and emotional well-being in daily life.
Herbs for Mental Wellness
Tuesday, November 17 Ā· 6:00ā7:00 PM CST
Participants will discover herbs traditionally used to support mental and emotional wellness. Participants will explore herbal options that may support the body during times of stress and overwhelm, low mood, difficulty sleeping, and challenges with focus, along with practical ways to incorporate herbs into a wellness rou
Advanced Community Safety Planning Workshop
Saturday, December 5 Ā· Time TBD
An advanced workshop focused on helping residents strengthen community-level safety planning and coordinated preparedness.
Nourish & Prepare
Sunday, December 6 Ā· 2:00-3:00 PM CST
Put emergency food preparedness into practice. Explore easy no-cook recipes while developing an emergency food plan that works for your household.
PAST TRAINING INITIATIVES
From May through July, BEWUNās Self-Sufficiency & Readiness Training Series equipped community members with practical skills and knowledge to strengthen preparedness, self-sufficiency, leadership, collective care, and community resilience.
Participants learned how to prepare for emergencies, build and lead neighborhood support networks, communicate during power disruptions, practice self-defense, develop block-level leadership, strengthen food security through farming, respond to medical emergencies, and safely shelter in place.
Through hands-on learning and skill-building, participants strengthened their ability to prepare, respond, organize, and care for one another;building safer, stronger, and more self-sufficient communities.
TRAINING INITIATIVES
A comprehensive training series running May through July, covering every dimension of community resilience. Capacity is limited to 20 per session.
MAY
Go Bags & Emergency Action Plans
Learn how to prepare essential emergency kits and create clear, actionable plans to respond in times of crisis.
Building and Leading Community Care Networks
Learn how to create and sustain support systems that ensure community members are cared for during times of need.
Communicating Without Power
Explore practical methods for staying connected and informed when traditional communication systems are unavailable.
Self Defense Training
Build awareness, confidence, and practical skills to protect yourself in real-world situations.
JUNE
Developing Block Leaders I
Learn the foundations of leadership at the neighborhood level and how to organize effectively within your block.
Beginner Friendly Farms
Learn the foundations of leadership at the neighborhood level and how to organize effectively within your block.
Shelter In Place I
Understand how to safely remain in place during emergencies, including preparation, supplies, and safety protocols.
Gunshot Wound Training
Gain critical, life-saving skills to respond effectively to gunshot wounds in emergency situations.
JULY
Sheltering in Place II
Build on foundational knowledge with advanced strategies for long-term safety and stability while sheltering in place.
Protestor Health
Learn how to protect your physical health and respond to medical needs during protests and demonstrations.
Ongoing Farming Training
Hands-on training focused on building sustainable food systems and increasing community self-sufficiency.
Community Leadership Training
Strengthen your ability to lead, organize, and drive impact within your community.
Join Us at Our First Event - Book Your Spot Now
This is a free event for the community. Complete the form below and sselect how you're joining Bewun.
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