David Espinoza has been working with West Street Recovery as a volunteer and a hub captain since 2021. They joined the WSR staff in 2024 as Co-Director of Community Organizing. David has lived in Northeast Houston for their whole life and has lived through many storms with his family.They started doing this work after Winter Storm Uri to connect with his community and learn how to help others recover after disasters. Studying Architecture taught them the importance of maintaining existing affordable housing to build generational wealth and protect the cultural fabric of diverse communities. Beyond rebuilding homes, they believe building power means people acting collectively to directly address the problems in front of us. This work has also inspired them to reconnect with nature through gardening and camping.
Houston, TX
When homes are repeatedly flooded, communities must take matters into their own hands. In Northeast Houston, communities of color have long battled severe flooding and toxic pollution, worsened by the climate crisis and neglected infrastructure. Residents’ health and homes have paid the price. West Street Recovery emerged as a grassroots effort to help neighbors rebuild after Hurricane Harvey. Through tireless organizing and collaborative research, they exposed the systemic inequalities that made their neighborhood more vulnerable than others.
Their perseverance paid off. In June 2023, Houston committed $20 million to revitalize outdated drainage systems, a victory sparked by West Street Recovery and their network of allies. This group doesn’t just fight for today’s relief; they also prepare for tomorrow’s challenges, distributing disaster readiness kits (“go bags”) and embarking on solar power initiatives to build a more resilient future. These bold efforts demonstrate what’s possible when communities take the lead in shaping climate solutions.
Learn more: https://www.weststreetrecovery.org/