GNL Public Forums

Taking the Punch Out of Powerful Hurricanes

A Forum on Building Resilience

Event Recap

On March 18, 2025, the Collier Community Foundation, in partnership with Greater Naples Leadership and the Naples United Church of Christ, hosted a public forum on hurricane preparedness.

Moderated by Eileen Connolly-Keesler, President and CEO of Collier Community Foundation, the event featured the following keynote speakers:

Matt Devitt, Chief Meteorologist of WINK News
Jennifer Jurado, Chief Resilience Officer and Deputy Director of the Resilient Environment Department in Broward County
Dan Summers, Director of Collier County Emergency Management Division

Several local environmental and resilience organizations hosted informational tables, sharing how they address resiliency concerns and how the public can get involved.

“The profound challenges hurricanes bring to our community require a united approach, and that’s why the collaboration among the Collier Community Foundation, Greater Naples Leadership, and Naples United Church of Christ is so important,” said Ms. Connolly-Keesler. “This partnership embodies the spirit of resilience and collective action needed to foster understanding, share solutions, and build a stronger, more prepared community.”

Special Thanks to our moderator
Eileen Connolly-Keesler,
Collier Community Foundation, President and CEO