Resilient Virginia to Host “Spotlight On” Webinar Exploring Arts, Culture, and Food Systems Resilience

Resilient Virginia will host an upcoming Spotlight On webinar highlighting innovative approaches to strengthening community resilience through arts, culture, and food systems. The virtual session will take place on January 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Titled “Using Arts and Culture to Strengthen Community Resilience — Starting with Our Food Systems,” the session will feature the Roanoke Foodshed Network and explore how creative and culturally grounded practices are helping to build more resilient, equitable, and connected regional food systems.

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.

Fall 2025: Resilient Virginia News

Resilient Virginia Newsletter Fall 2025

The Power of Partnership … Spotlight On Webinar Series … Resilience Certificate Survey … Interactive StoryMaps Advance Climate Equity … RVCA Updates … more.

Summer 2025: Resilient Virginia News

Resilient Virginia Newsletter Summer 2025

Countdown to the Resilient Virginia Conference … RVCA Hosting 3rd Priority-Setting Workshop at the Conference … Sponsor Highlight: JMU CASE Collaboration … more.

Spring 2025: Resilient Virginia News

Resilient Virginia Newsletter Spring 2025

2025 Conference Set for July 23-24 … RVCA Launches Priority-Setting Workshops … Collaboration in Action … Resources and Funding … more.

Winter 2025: Resilient Virginia News

Resilient Virginia Newsletter Winter 2025

Meet Jessica Steelman, Resilient Virginia’s Executive Director … Resilient Virginia Events … Program and Project Updates … Board of Directors Updates … more.

2018 Rural Resiliency Forum

The 2018 Resilient Virginia Rural Resiliency Forum, held on October 23 at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, brought together public, private, and academic stakeholders to strengthen the resilience and prosperity of Virginia’s rural communities.

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Trish Porter

Director of Programs & Communications

Trish Porter is the Director of Programs and Communications at Resilient Virginia, where she develops and leads programs focused on resilience, systems thinking, and cross-sector collaboration. She is the co-creator and curriculum lead for the Resilience Foundations Certificate Program and served as lead author of the Regional Resilience Roadmap for Central and Southwest Virginia.

In her role, Trish oversees statewide educational initiatives including the Resiliency Academy, Spotlight On Webinar series, and the biennial Resilient Virginia Conference. She works closely with local governments, nonprofits, academic institutions, and state agencies to support resilience planning, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem-solving across sectors.

Trish specializes in translating complex resilience and sustainability concepts into practical, accessible learning experiences for local leaders, practitioners, and communities. She holds a Master of Natural Resources with a Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability from Virginia Tech and brings a multidisciplinary background in sustainability, communications, education, and strategic program development.

Jessica Steelman

Executive Director

Jessica is a systems-level resilience and sustainability practitioner with experience leading nonprofit strategy, cross-sector partnerships, community-centered planning, and resilience implementation across Virginia. She brings a multidisciplinary background in coastal resilience, behavioral health, community engagement, grant strategy, and organizational leadership, with a focus on strengthening the natural, built, economic, and social systems that communities depend on.

Her work centers on connecting people, resources, and ideas across public, private, nonprofit, academic, and regional networks to move resilience priorities from planning into practical action. Through strategic leadership, program design, partnership development, and resource mobilization, she helps communities and organizations build capacity, reduce risk, and advance more resilient and sustainable futures.

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NEXT RESILIENCY ACADEMY JUNE 25: Proactive Resilience: Planning, Adapting, and Mitigating Hazards Before They Strike

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