Community leaders—people who step up to organize and guide their communities, often as volunteers—are on the front lines of climate and health challenges in Puerto Rico. Where government systems fall short, they fill the gap: coordinating hurricane relief, setting up community hubs during power outages, organizing health education, and creating solutions tailored to their neighbors' real needs. Their effectiveness comes from their deep knowledge about their communities, their shared experiences, and earned trust. When it comes to climate and health, community leaders don't just raise awareness: they inspire action, reaching even those most resistant to change.
Recognizing the central role community leaders play, Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR) has worked closely with leaders across the archipelago to advance public health education through community-centered approaches. Much of this work has taken place through Aquí Nos Cuidamos, a multimedia initiative that creates accessible, culturally relevant educational content on infectious diseases, mental health, extreme heat, and other urgent public health concerns.
To better understand how community leaders are experiencing and responding to climate change, CienciaPR organized a series of listening sessions in May 2025 with 17 leaders representing diverse communities, including older adults, youth, public housing residents, and rural and urban populations. We also hosted a dedicated session with four leaders representing the Deaf community. We detail the insights of that dialogue in a separate report.