Saket Soni Wants to Protect the Workers Rebuilding Communities After Disaster

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, forcing thousands of residents to leave their homes. Against this backdrop, Saket Soni moved to Louisiana to support the cleanup efforts. It was during this time that he formed a deep connection with Vincent Harding, a historian and activist who had once mentored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Soni was inspired by Harding's words that America was still being built, and he was eager to play a part in this ongoing construction.

In 2017, Soni co-founded Resilience Force, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of workers who clean up after natural disasters. These workers, often undocumented, form a growing sector of the economy and are integral to the recovery process following devastating storms. As climate change leads to more frequent and severe extreme weather events, the need for this workforce is only set to increase.

Soni aims to continue developing this workforce over the next decade, focusing on providing legal advocacy, better pay and safety standards, and technical skills training to these workers. Resilience Force also offers free assistance to uninsured homeowners when possible. While philanthropy funds the nonprofit's in-house activities, free assistance is provided to those who cannot afford it.

The organization's work addresses four crises: climate change, housing shortages, the difficult job market, and anti-immigration sentiment. Soni recounts a time when he helped a conservative Florida family whose home was damaged by Hurricane Michael. Despite the family's initial distrust, Soni and his team of mostly immigrant workers rebuilt their home, leading to the removal of the anti-immigrant sign.

Through its work, Resilience Force aims to support the workers who make a vital contribution to rebuilding communities in the aftermath of disasters.