This blog is part of the Energy Crossroads Podcast series, helping listeners learn more about the episode in an alternative format.
As communities across the Gulf Coast brace for another hurricane season, the need for long-term resilience has never been more urgent. In this timely and thought-provoking episode of the HARC Energy Crossroads Podcast, we speak with Nicole Alderete-Ferrini, CEO of Parade on Main.
Nicole brings two decades of experience in local government, including her groundbreaking role as the first Chief Resilience Officer for the City of El Paso. Today, as the head of Parade on Main—a next-generation strategy, advocacy, and policy firm—she’s helping public institutions across the country reimagine how to build smarter and more resilient communities.
At a time when many communities are still stuck in a cycle of disaster response and recovery, Nicole offers a bold and hopeful message: resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about building forward.
From Recovery to Readiness
Drawing on her experience navigating climate impacts, economic shocks, and social inequities at the city level, Nicole explains how true resilience must go beyond temporary fixes or emergency measures. She talks about how resilience means designing for the future—not just surviving the present.
Nicole discusses how cities can evolve from crisis mode into proactive readiness by integrating sustainability and innovation into every level of planning and investment. She highlights the importance of long-term thinking—something often missing in policy cycles focused on short-term wins. By embedding resilience into infrastructure, housing, energy systems, and governance, communities can better anticipate and withstand shocks while also improving quality of life for residents.
A Foundation of Resilience
A major theme that came up in the conversation is the importance of resilience. Nicole emphasizes that resilience efforts must be inclusive and community-driven to be effective.
Nicole shares how Parade on Main works with local governments to elevate community voices. Through innovative strategies that combine data, storytelling, and cross-sector collaboration, her team helps cities co-create policies that are environmentally, socially, and economically resilient.
A New Model for Public Leadership
Nicole’s perspective as a former city executive also brings a practical lens to the conversation. She speaks candidly about the challenges public leaders face—from constrained budgets to political headwinds—but also the growing opportunities to embrace bold, systems-level change.
She calls for a model of public leadership that embraces uncertainty, values long-term outcomes, and recognizes the interconnectedness of energy, housing, health, and environment.
Moving Forward Together
As communities across Texas prepare for extreme weather risks, this episode offers inspiration and a call to action. Nicole reminds us that resilience is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It requires intentional design, sustained investment, and a willingness to center people at every step of the process.
Listen to the full episode of Energy Crossroads to hear Nicole Alderete-Ferrini’s insights on building forward—not just back –here.
