Charleston resident Adelaide Bates was named as climate resilience manager at the Furman University’s Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, the college announced Feb. 1.
The position is funded by a grant from the Walmart Foundation.
In this role, Bates will participate in the Shi Institute’s partnership with the Climate Ready America Southeast Navigator Network, a program led by the Geos Institute designed to build climate and natural disaster resilience in a four-state region including 72 under-resourced communities across Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.
She will work with Lowcountry and Pee Dee communities to assist them in preparing for and reducing the effects of potential natural disasters and climate change. She will also partner with community leaders and assist them in finding funding sources and securing technical support.
“There are a variety of state and federal programs designed to support climate resilience, and we can offer assistance to increase access to those resources,” said Andrew Predmore, executive director of the Shi Institute. “Adelaide is a natural collaborator and empathetic listener, and we’re confident that she’ll be a valuable asset to communities in South Carolina and the larger regional partnership.”
Bates served as founder and director of the McClellanville Land and Sea Market, now in its seventh season, and on the city of Charleston’s Climate Action Planning Waste Subcommittee. She worked with the South Carolina Environmental Law Project and the College of Charleston.
She is a graduate of the College of Charleston.
