Guide to Building Thriving, Resilient Communities

A Collection of Resources for You & Your Neighbors to Create a Saner, Healthier Future Together

Introduction

This collection of books, online resources, trainings and courses was assembled by members and allies of the Thriving Resilient Communities Collaboratory (TRCC), who share a vision of a world that is sustainable, just, compassionate, and healthy.

Building Thriving, Resilient Communities explores many exciting resilient systems being created in communities across the nation (and planet) that demonstrate how we can live more sustainably, and in community, while respecting Nature’s limits. More than just inspiring stories, this collection contains tools—practical, tested, hands-on ways you can begin making your community more resilient. And best of all, most of these steps—collaborating with neighbors, supporting local farmers and tradespeople, reducing dependence on globalized trade—are the right thing to do… even if we weren’t facing unprecedented challenges!

Building Thriving, Resilient Communities consists of five guides:

• Guide #1: Getting Started
  An introduction to the converging economic and ecological challenges we face as responsible people sharing this planet, along with exciting stories and useful tools to help us find our way
• Guide #2: Taking Steps Toward Resilience: Lifestyle Changes
  A brief list of simple steps individuals and households can make to use less energy, become more mindful and resilient, with links to additional information and resources for DIY projects
• Guide #3: Taking Steps Toward Resilience: Practical Projects
  Ideas, guides, and best practices for projects to mobilize your community - from relocalizing your food, energy, and economic systems to creating a culture of compassion and service
• Guide #4: Building a Movement: Tools for Effective Collaboration
  Tools to help you learn how to work effectively as a team, identify community resources and needs, and design an environment from which creativity and collective genius can emerge
• Guide #5: Shifting the System
  Legal information, organizing strategies, and models to shift current policies, systems, and infrastructure to support and foster community resilience

Enjoy the journey, and let us know what tools you discover or invent that might help others by emailing [email protected].

Compiled by Marissa Mommaerts; edited by Leslie Meehan & Ken White.
Sponsored by Thriving Resilient Communities Collaboratory.