Accelerating resiliency planning in communities across the Commonwealth

Search

Rural Resiliency Forum 2018

Rural Resiliency Forum 2018

Rural Resiliency Forum

Resilient Virginia’s Rural Resiliency Forum was held October 23, 2018 at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Virginia.

The Resilient Virginia Rural Resiliency Forum’s goal is to bring together public, private, and university stakeholders who are interested in improving the resiliency and prosperity of rural areas of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Anticipated outcomes of the forum include:

  • Improved collaboration and program coordination by community leaders, state and federal administrators, businesses, private landowners, and the public;
  • Immediate actions to implement resiliency activities in rural communities, supported by existing resources, state or federal programs, and funding; and
  • Policy recommendations at the state level.

We recognize that “community resiliency plans” can include many aspects, including economic development, energy options, food security, infrastructure and buildings, ecosystem services, mitigation and emergency preparedness plans, land use planning, and social issues such as health and education. This forum will focus on the interconnection of four broad areas:

  • Resilient Agriculture and Forestry
  • Green and Blue Infrastructure
  • Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Preparedness
  • Incorporating a Resiliency Approach to Planning

 

View Agenda

Event Presentations

Welcome and “Setting the Stage/Defining the Problem”
Andrew Sorrell, Chairman, Board of Directors, Resilient Virginia, and Deputy Director, Virginia Tobacco Commission

Click to launch Andrew Sorrell slideshow.Click to launch Andrew Sorrell slideshow

Resilient Forestry
Robbie Talbert, Regional Forester-Central Region, Virginia Department of Forestry

Click to launch Robbie Talbert slideshow.Click to launch Robbie Talbert slideshow

Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation Overview
Kristin Owen, AICP, CFM, Floodplain Program Planner, VADCR

Click to launch Kristin Owen slideshow.Click to launch Kristin Owen slideshow

Resilience in Public Safety & Homeland Security
Stacie Neal, Critical Infrastructure Protection Program Manager, Governor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security

Click to launch Stacie Neal slideshow.Click to launch Stacie Neal slideshow

Adapting Farms to Weather Extremes and Climate Uncertainty
Kathy Holm, Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations, USDA-NRCS

Click to launch Kathy Holm slideshow.Click to launch Kathy Holm slideshow

Green and Blue Infrastructure Planning in Virginia
Karen Firehock, Executive Director, Green Infrastructure Center Inc.

Click to launch Karen Firehock slideshow.Click to launch Karen Firehock slideshow

Managing Climate Risks through Sustainable Agriculture
Julie Shortridge, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech

Click to launch Julie Shortridge slideshow.Click to launch Julie Shortridge slideshow

How to Create a Sustainable Agriculture System
Leonard Githinji, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Sustainable and Urban Agriculture, Virginia State University

Click to launch Leonard Githinji slideshow.Click to launch Leonard Githinji slideshow

Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition and the AgrAbility Program
Kim Niewolny, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Community Education and Development, Department of Agriculture, Virginia Tech

Click to launch Kim Niewolny slideshow.Click to launch Kim Niewolny slideshow

The RAFT: Resilience Adaptation Feasibility Tool
Presented by Angela King, Assistant Director, Virginia Coastal Policy Center, William and Mary, in cooperation with
University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation
Old Dominion University: Resilience Collaborative
Sea Grant Virginia

Click to launch Angela King slideshow.Click to launch Angela King slideshow

Office for the Advancement of Sustainable Energy, James Madison University
Jonathan Miles, Ph.D., Professor, Integrated Science and Technology, and Director, Center for Wind Energy

Jonathan Miles presentation.Click to view Jonathan Miles slide

Details

Rural Resiliency Forum
October 23, 2018
9:00 am–3:00 pm
Frontier Culture Museum
1290 Richmond Avenue
Staunton, Virginia

 

 

Become a Member
Become a Sponsor
Become a Volunteer

Sign Up for E-News

Get news and notifications from Resilient Virginia.

The Resilience Calendar

  • The Vision and Practice of Forest Urbanism
    Date: October 23, 2025
    Location: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Join UVA's Center for Forest Urbanism for the inaugural symposium of the Center for Forest Urbanism. A Thursday (10.23) evening keynote by Jeremy Hoffman, Director of Impact Evaluation and Community Science Groundwork USA, will open…

  • RVCA Agriculture Working Group
    Date: October 23, 2025
    Location: Virtual

    Resilient Virginia Collaborative Alliance Agriculture Working Group monthly meeting. Anyone is welcome to join the conversation!

    RVCA Agriculture Working Group
    Thursday, October 23 · 11:00am – 12:00pm
    Time zone: America/New_York

  • Spotlight On Local Resilience in Action
    Date: October 29, 2025
    Location: Virtual

    This session will highlight local resilience initiatives in Harrisonburg — Eateries Acting Towards Sustainability (EATS) and Harrisonburg Conservation Assistance Program (HCAP) — as well as the regional collaborative resilience initiative between Charlottesville and Albemarle County — Resilient…

  • October State Climate Policy Network National Call
    Date: October 29, 2025
    Location: Virtual

    Join Climate XChange for their monthly State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) national call. This one-hour, once-a-month call is the perfect opportunity to learn about and discuss recent state-level climate policy progress across the country.…

Latest News & Resources

Where Data Meets Story: Mapping Equity in Virginia

VCU RISE has launched interactive StoryMaps to highlight environmental justice issues in Charles City County, Emporia, and Richmond. Learn how these equity-focused tools blend local data, maps, and community stories to support planning, resource access, and climate resilience.

Read More »

The Power of Partnership: What It Means to Be a State Affiliate of ASBN

Resilient Virginia has joined the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) as a proud state affiliate—connecting our local work to a powerful national movement for a just, equitable, and sustainable economy. This partnership gives us—and our members—greater access to resources, national campaigns, funding opportunities, and a stronger policy voice. Learn how this affiliation is helping us scale impact and drive sustainable change across Virginia.

Read More »

Fall 2025 with Resilient Virginia: Engaging Leaders, Empowering Action

This fall, Resilient Virginia is rolling out a lineup of virtual and in-person events aimed at bringing people together and sharing real-world tools for building stronger, more resilient communities across the state. From webinars and workshops to networking meetups, there’s something for everyone—whether you’re focused on agriculture, energy, infrastructure, the economy, or community development, or just getting started on your resilience journey.

Read More »

Upcoming Resilience Talks

Couldn’t attend every session at the recent Resilient Virginia Conference — or weren’t able to attend at all? You’re not alone—and we’ve got you covered.

Resilient Virginia is planning a series of post-conference sessions that will revisit the most in-demand topics from the conference—and the first three are happening soon!

Read More »

Where Resilience Meets Reality: Highlights from the 2025 Resilient Virginia Conference

Over 200 leaders, experts, and community advocates gathered at James Madison University this July for the 2025 Resilient Virginia Conference, themed “Moving Virginia Forward.” The two-day event offered a powerful mix of strategic insights, grassroots innovation, and hands-on learning—from climate-smart infrastructure and equity-driven planning to immersive experiences like the Science on a Sphere and FIRST Chesapeake’s “Robot Petting Zoo.”

Read More »