Student: Daniela Peraza Vasquez
Faculty Mentor:Alane Humrich, Program Director, Community Weatherization Coalition
Project Site: Community Weatherization Coalition, Gainesville, FL
How can hands-on, community-centered work help reduce energy burdens and build resilience in the Gulf South? In Spring 2025, Gulf Scholar and first-year UF student Daniela Peraza Vasquez joined the Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC) as an intern, supporting energy and climate resilience efforts in Alachua and Levy Counties.
During her internship, Daniela completed the CWC’s intensive 12-hour Energy Coach training and conducted a Home Energy Tune-Up for a Gainesville family where she installed energy- and water-saving tools, inspected appliances and plumbing, and sharing practical ways to cut utility costs. She also worked with CWC staff and their partner organization Rebuilding Together North Central Florida to provide outreach in Levy County, going door-to-door in neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Idalia to help residents access free flood insurance and disaster recovery support.
Fluent in Spanish, Daniela played a crucial role in expanding CWC’s outreach to Spanish-speaking households, identifying new community partners like the Gainesville Latina Women’s League, and helping recruit additional volunteers for upcoming training cohorts. Her work bridged not only linguistic barriers, but social and economic divides between UF and the broader Gainesville community.
Daniela presented her work at the 2025 Gulf Scholars Conference in Mobile, Alabama, and continues to advocate for equity and sustainability in the Gulf region.
Why It Matters
Low-income families in Florida and across the Gulf often spend a disproportionate share of their income, sometimes over 20%, on energy costs due to older, inefficient homes and appliances. This burden worsens with extreme heat, frequent storms, and rising living expenses. By providing energy-saving home assessments and personalized coaching, the Community Weatherization Coalition empowers vulnerable households to save money, reduce environmental impacts, and improve health and safety.
Daniela’s work highlights the importance of culturally competent outreach in Spanish to ensure all community members can access these life-changing resources. Her internship reveals how local, grassroots solutions address Gulf-region climate challenges while fostering social justice and resilience.