Strengthening Resilience Knowledge

Resiliency Academy

Since 2020, the Resiliency Academy has offered accessible, timely webinar series that strengthen resilience knowledge, practical skills, and leadership capacity for professionals across sectors. Since its launch, the Academy has experienced significant and sustained growth in participation.

MARCH
Change Happens: Making Sense of Variability Across the Systems We Depend On

APRIL
From Change to Impact: Identifying and Reducing Hazard Pathways

MAY
Risk and Vulnerability Explained: How Lives, Systems, and Perceptions Shape Outcomes

JUNE
Proactive Resilience: Planning, Adapting, and Mitigating Hazards Before They Strike

JULY
Seeing the Bigger Picture: How Systems Thinking Builds Resilient Communities

AUGUST
Closing the Opportunity Gap: Ensuring Equitable Access to Essential Resources

SEPTEMBER
The Essentials of Change Management: Guiding Communities Toward Resilience

OCTOBER
Understanding Decisions: How Individuals, Organizations, and Political Systems Shape Resilience

NOVEMBER
Building Shared Meaning: Communication Approaches for Multi-Sector Resilience Efforts

DECEMBER
Putting It All Together: Showcasing Resilience in Action

2026 Resiliency Academy

Exploring What Resilience Looks Like

March–December, 2026

This comprehensive webinar series explores the principles, tools, and strategies needed to understand and strengthen resilience in social, ecological, and community systems. Every session is designed to build sequentially, deepening understanding and skills over the course of the 10-session series.

Participants will examine how natural and human systems experience change and variability, analyze vulnerabilities and risks, and explore approaches for reducing hazards and promoting adaptive capacity.

The series emphasizes systems thinking, equity, and justice, providing practical guidance on decision-making, change management, and effective communication.

Through these sessions, attendees will gain the knowledge and skills to design inclusive, evidence-based strategies that enhance resilience across communities, organizations, and interconnected systems.

Registration Opens Soon

2026 Resiliency Academy Topics

MARCH
Change Happens: Making Sense of Variability Across the Systems We Depend On

APRIL
From Change to Impact: Identifying and Reducing Hazard Pathways

MAY
Risk and Vulnerability Explained: How Lives, Systems, and Perceptions Shape Outcomes

JUNE
Proactive Resilience: Planning, Adapting, and Mitigating Hazards Before They Strike

JULY
Seeing the Bigger Picture: How Systems Thinking Builds Resilient Communities

AUGUST
Closing the Opportunity Gap: Ensuring Equitable Access to Essential Resources

SEPTEMBER
The Essentials of Change Management: Guiding Communities Toward Resilience

OCTOBER
Understanding Decisions: How Individuals, Organizations, and Political Systems Shape Resilience

NOVEMBER
Building Shared Meaning: Communication Approaches for Multi-Sector Resilience Efforts

DECEMBER
Putting It All Together: Showcasing Resilience in Action

About Our Speaker

Dr. Katie Trozzo

Dr. Katie Trozzo is a Food Systems Network and Outreach Specialist in the Virginia Tech Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education and Assistant Director of Outreach and Engagement with the Virginia Tech Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation. She also serves as the Virginia Tech–based State Coordinator for the Virginia SARE program. Her work focuses on building partnerships that support farm viability, land and water stewardship, and resilient food systems. Her work draws upon cultural community development and she uses arts-based approaches to support community transformation.

Resiliency Academy Archives

Climate and Hazard Mitigation Planning

SPRING AND FALL 2024

The 2024 Resiliency Academy responded to updated FEMA Local Mitigation Planning requirements by helping communities understand and integrate climate change impacts into Hazard Mitigation Plans. Through a virtual webinar series, participants explored projected climate impacts across Virginia and gained practical tools, data sources, and approaches to incorporate climate information into local planning. The Academy strengthened local capacity to meet federal requirements while advancing more proactive, data-informed mitigation and resilience strategies.

Components of a Resilient Community

SPRING AND FALL 2022

The 2022 Resiliency Academy explored the foundational components of a resilient community, with a focus on economic activity, community action, infrastructure and buildings, and ecosystem services. Through a virtual learning series, participants examined how these interconnected elements support long-term resilience and community well-being. The Academy emphasized practical strategies and cross-sector perspectives to help communities strengthen systems, align efforts, and advance resilience planning and action.

Funding Resiliency Programs

SPRING 2021

The Spring 2021 Resiliency Academy focused on helping communities identify and access funding to advance resilience initiatives. Through a three-part virtual series, participants explored financing options for flood-prone communities, resilient buildings and energy systems, and economic recovery, jobs, and justice. The Academy equipped local leaders and practitioners with insights into funding tools and strategies to support equitable, long-term resilience outcomes.

Four Resiliency Planning Guides

Fall 2020

The Fall 2020 Resiliency Academy featured a four-part webinar series highlighting leading resiliency planning tools to help communities strengthen their capacity to withstand and recover from severe disturbances and ongoing stressors. The series focused on practical approaches for maintaining critical functions, protecting community vitality, and supporting informed, proactive resilience planning across sectors.