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Measures of Community Resilience for Local Decision Makers Proceedings of a Workshop (2017) / Chapter Skim
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3 Breakout Session:Community Environments and Measures
Pages 12-21

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From page 12...
... In terms of their levels of resilience, most participants indicated their communities have a high level of resilience in the social/wellness environment based on factors such as the strength of their faith-based communities, high rates of volunteerism, high levels of civic engagement, strong sense of place, strong ties to the community, active neighborhood groups, and strong levels of information-sharing among community organizations. Participants also recognized that certain neighborhoods or areas within their communities may be more resilient than others.
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From page 13...
... Participants briefly discussed possible differences in social connectedness in larger cities compared to smaller ones. One participant pointed to a finding of the Blue Zone Initiative3 -- it can be difficult to create social connections writ large in large communities.
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From page 14...
... Individuals who do not use social media may be a part of social networks that revolve around their places of employment, membership in community organizations or religious institutions, and/or membership in online alumni networks or Listservs. It is important to ensure that the information channels being used to measure social resilience are appropriate for the community groups or individuals being analyzed.
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From page 15...
... • Rate of gentrification and displacement • Percentage of people in subsidized housing • Percent of homelessness Transportation • Ratio of housing burden and transportation costs Preparedness • Hazard risk awareness • Capacity to respond to health crises Population distribution • Percent of people with limited English proficiency • Geographic distribution of people with limited English proficiency SOURCE: Compiled by the Resilient America Roundtable Staff based on comments and feedback provided by breakout group participants at this workshop, Developing Community Resilience Measures.
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From page 16...
... could have an impact on social connectedness. Several breakout group participants observed that some communities are experiencing rapid economic development and growth, which, along with population increase, often results in increased housing costs and contributes to neighborhood gentrification.
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From page 17...
... Some participants who found their communities to have medium or high levels of resilience in the natural environment cited the following factors as being important in their evaluation: development of regional growth strategies and agreed-upon growth targets for their communities relative to the natural environment; installation of green roofs and bioswales, as well as strong community support for natural infrastructure; and regulations and commitments to preserve coastlines. Those who gave mixed or low ratings to the resilience of their community's natural environment cited factors such as the existence of beautiful beaches 8  See chapter 1, p.
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From page 18...
... Furthermore, some government offices and neighborhoods may be working on resilience issues without the impetus coming from local leadership, such as the mayor's office. One participant suggested that integrating the concept of resilience into different environments may be a way to help government officials better understand what resilience means.
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From page 19...
... • Flood frequency Wetlands • Proportion of wetlands • Acreage of natural buffers SOURCE: Compiled by the Resilient America Roundtable Staff based on comments and feedback provided by breakout group participants at this workshop, Developing Community Resilience Measures. that happen infrequently but pay less attention to building resilience to long-term stressors (e.g., chronic homelessness, poverty)
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From page 20...
... IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE MEASURES: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS Dr. Galloway turned the discussion to measurement challenges, asking the workshop participants to talk about the obstacles they currently face in obtaining data, barriers they have encountered, and how they overcame these barriers.
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From page 21...
... For example, if the power goes out for several days, how does this impact daily business operations and profits, working parents who have to remain home to care for young children because schools are closed, emergency response and recovery activities, or hospitals' ability to care for their patients? SOURCE: Compiled by the Resilient America Roundtable Staff based on comments and feedback provided by breakout group participants at this workshop, Developing Community Resilience Measures.
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Key Terms

  • social connectedness
  • human environment
  • community resilience
  • social media
  • community organizations

  • community leaders
  • social networks
  • participants raised
  • participants brainstormed
  • participants indicated

  • participants observed
  • green infrastructure
  • data sharing
  • housing burden
  • breakout sessions

  • strong community
  • core community
  • social resilience
  • strong social
  • social relationships

  • participants discussed
  • environment cited
  • resilient individuals
  • larger public
  • share data

  • built infrastructure
  • population distribution
  • infrastructure upgrades
  • english proficiency
  • limited english


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