Resilience Foundations Certificate Program — Spring 2026 Cohort

Resilient Virginia's Resilience Foundations logo

Accomac, VA — March 2, 2026 — Resilient Virginia announces the launch of its Spring 2026 cohort for the Resilience Foundations Certificate Program, a 12-week professional development experience designed to equip leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to advance resilience across the Commonwealth.

The program brings together participants from diverse sectors to build a shared understanding of resilience while strengthening collaboration across disciplines. Through interactive sessions and applied learning, participants will develop practical frameworks and skills to support coordinated, systems-level approaches that enhance long-term community sustainability.

Grounded in Virginia’s unique challenges and strengths, the curriculum explores how communities are responding to increasing climate risks, including sea-level rise, flooding, extreme heat, and economic disruption. Participants will engage with real-world examples and gain insights from Virginia’s leadership in coastal resilience, equitable adaptation planning, and cross-sector collaboration.

The program also highlights ongoing resilience efforts across the state — from the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Planning Framework to the development of local and regional resilience hubs — providing participants with actionable strategies and tools to drive meaningful, lasting change in their own communities.

The Spring 2026 cohort marks the continued expansion of Resilient Virginia’s commitment to building capacity, fostering collaboration, and supporting resilience practitioners across the Commonwealth.

Learn more about the Resilience Foundations Certificate Program at https://resilientvirginia.org/resilience-foundations-certificate-program/

About Resilient Virginia

Resilient Virginia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing resilience planning and implementation across the Commonwealth. Through partnerships, research, and capacity-building initiatives, Resilient Virginia works to equip communities, businesses, and institutions with the tools and knowledge needed to adapt to change and thrive in an increasingly complex environment.

Media Contact

Trish Porter
Director of Programs and Communications
Resilient Virginia
trish@resilientvirginia.org

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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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