Major disasters are occurring at an alarming rate and Vermonters are calling for action. In response to the extreme weather events Vermont faced in 2023, Rebuild by Design released the “Atlas of Disaster: Vermont,” highlighting 17 federally declared disasters and advocating for long-term infrastructure funding. Join us for an educational series to equip legislators and communities with knowledge for equitable climate adaptation.
Rebuild by Design is working with local Vermont organizations to co-host a virtual multi-part educational series targeted at educating current and incoming legislators, and building local capacity and knowledge to equitably adapt to extreme weather events in Vermont. Panels will feature local leaders, national experts, and legislators to educate, respond to the questions we have heard, and give opportunities to local organizations to showcase their work.
Download the speaker series PDF here>>
Event: MOBILIZING FOR VERMONT'S EXTREME WEATHER
IN PERSON | MONTPELIER, VERMONT | MARCH 27, 2025, 5 – 7PM
Co-hosted by: VPIRG, VNRC, and VCRD
Location: Pavilion Building – 111 State St, Conference Room 110, Montpelier, VT (access off Governor Davis Ave.)
Don’t miss our opportunity to gather in person at our upcoming event! This is the 4th event of our multi-part Building Resilience in Rural Communities Speaker Series. We look forward to culminating the learnings from our previous educational panels and transform those learnings into action.
Connect with community members, local leaders, legislators, and partners from around the state! This hands on workshop will entail a conversation on funding climate infrastructure, collaborative strategizing sessions, and networking. Take part in interactive breakout sessions to discuss climate challenges, opportunities, and actions in greater depth.
Registration required to attend. Please RSVP by 2/24 to secure your spot and select your preferred breakout sessions.
PAST EVENTS
Session #1: Navigating VT Climate Risks & Building Resilience in Rural Communities
This is the first panel of the Building Resilience in Rural Communities Speaker Series. Topics include:
- Vermont’s Climate Risks – Johanna Lawton, Rebuild by Design
- Centering Environmental Justice Communities – Lena Greenberg and Jess Laporte, Community Resilience Organizations (CROs)
- Designing Collaborative Outreach Processes with Communities – Amanda Gustin, Barre City Councilor
- Key Strategies for Rural Resilience – Megan Lawson, Headwaters Economics
- Moderator – Jessica Savage, VCRD
You can find the recording here>>
Session #2: Flood Insurance and Housing
This is the second panel of the Building Resilience in Rural Communities Speaker Series. Topics include:
- National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 101 – Rebecca Pfieffer, VT DEC Watershed Management Division
- Housing Affordability & Home Protections – Kelly Hamshaw, University of Vermont
- Best Practices for Housing Buyouts – Anna Weber, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
- Moderator – Jacob Hemmerick, VT Department of Housing & Community Development
You can find the recording here>>
Session #3: Regional Planning and Leveraging Nature as Climate Infrastructure
This is the third panel of the Building Resilience in Rural Communities Speaker Series. Topics include:
This is the third panel of the Building Resilience in Rural Communities Speaker Series. Join local and national partners to hear relevant case studies, take a deep dive into current resiliences gaps and learn how our communities can address them. Topics include:
- Managing Upstream Flooding and Highlighting Regional Planning Efforts – Kevin Geiger, TRORC
- Supporting State-level Flood Resilience Strategies in the U.S. – Gian Tavares, American Flood Coalition
- Leveraging Nature as Climate Infrastructure in VT– Michele Braun, Friends of the Winooski River
- Leveraging Nature as Climate Infrastructure Nationally – Vincent Lee, Arup
You can find the recording here>>
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