The 2016 Resilience Dialogues pilot supported five climate-savvy and well-resourced communities. We have supported thirteen communities since then, including several communities that have been historically underrepresented in climate adaptation efforts and several which were new to climate resilience. Click here to read about the pilot, and scroll down to read outcomes from 2017-2018.
Community leaders engaged more members of their community. One community leader said, “I think it helped align conversations in a more concrete fashion, and helped various stakeholders converse through a different vehicle. The opportunity to participate in a forum created by an outside facilitator can recalibrate the way people view their neighbors’ thoughts and contributions.”
Communities identified climate resilience priorities and learned about the most appropriate resources to tackle those priorities. In the words of one participant, “One size doesn't fit all in complex problems like climate resiliency, and (to extend the metaphor) there is no one-stop shop for information or solutions. Subject matter experts were able to provide a range of information tailored to the city's needs.” Even advanced communities found this useful: “[We have been] heavily engaged in resilience and climate change adaptation over the last 4-5 years, but I thought this dialogue identified areas that have been overlooked or under analyzed in the resilience discussion.”
Communities linked civic priorities and climate resilience. “The Dialogues created a network of energetic individuals who were so willing to engage and help—this energy was infectious. Integrating resiliency/sustainability programs can be a bit of a battle at time because governments have a vast number of programs competing for limited resources. The dialogues provided a breath of fresh air.”
Communities left with confidence. “I built confidence that our region will rise to the climate challenge and eventually emerge as a leader, [and] deepened my appreciation for the importance of positive framing.” “This dialogue opened my thinking to other aspects and areas of resilience and climate change than I previously identified as threats. I think this will assist in the identification and implementation of resilience efforts throughout the city.”
Subject matter experts learned about communities. “I was really struck by how complicated the problem is for community planners in terms of having to address social, economic, and environmental issues.” And how to interact effectively: “It caused me to think about how I can be most useful when sharing what I know.” “[I learned] the importance of providing communities with relevant case studies and resources and tailoring the discussion to their needs and abilities.”
Resource providers connected with community leaders to offer their tools and services and to get feedback that helps them improve those tools. “I think it is important to foster this client-based type of approach: ‘What do you need?’ and then try to respond; otherwise, there is a deluge of information.”
Click a community below to read their full dialogue synthesis report documenting highlights, resources and next steps. Or, click here for a summary of quesions each community explored and their next steps.