Getting Started 

Excited to transform your place into a hub, space or neighborhood but not sure how to start?

Follow these steps as a guide to developing your site. Feel free to use a different order according to your timeline and work flow.

Step 1

Research

Step 2

Team Building

Step 3

Assessments

Step 4

Visioning

Step 5

Goal Setting

Step 6

Implementation

Step 7

Continuity

 LEARN

Learn more about resilience hubs and disaster collectivism

Take some time to explore the growing field of resilience hubs and community resilience. Read the  guidance documents (Urban Sustainability Directors Network), be inspired by films (“The Response”) and books (“Paradise Built in Hell”) and read about other cities and nonprofits around the country developing resilience hubs.

Key Resources:

ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY 

Visioning Sessions, Surveys, Community Meetings and More

What does your community want and need from your resilience hub?

  • Solicit ideas for creative ways to engage with and include a diverse set of community members, including visioning session meetings, block parties, movie nights and incentivized surveys
  • Conduct digital surveys to reach out to a broader population.

    Key Resources:

    ASSESS VULNERABILITIES AND NEEDS 

    Coordinate Site & Neighborhood Assessments 

    • Learn about and utilize the various tools to identify community assets, resources, hazards and vulnerabilities: including Cal-Adapt, Cal Enviroscreen and the California Healthy Places Index.
    • Do a site assessment using our list of recommended features for resilience hubs.
    • Map out your neighborhood for resilience assets and needs, using a Google map or other digital tool.

    Key Resources:

    ORGANIZE

    Organize a Multi-Sector Steering or Planning Commttee

    Start to coalesce a steering team made up representatives who will be supporting your resilience hub. 

    • Site staff, community members, Board of Directors members, funders, local government staff and local utility staff could all be considered. 
    • Consider conflict resolution protocols, a horizontal governing structure (with sub-committees) and funding for community members to participate. 

     

    Key Resources:

    Step 5

    Set Both Short & Long Term Goals with Community Members

    • Create a budget for long-term and short-term project goals.
    • Use these methods to evaluate the recommended five components of resilience hubs: power, operations, communication, programming, and buildings & landscape.
    • Do specific analyses to determine the phases and funding for implementing more complex infrastructure, such as solar with battery backup or earthquake retrofits.
    • Prioritize the goals in order of importance and capacity, and identify funding needs.
    • Discuss existing and potential strategic partnerships. Strategize which ones you will prioritize, including community groups, local utilities & local government offices/agencies.

    Step 6

    Organize community visioning sessions, survey & audits

    • We recommend starting with a small project!
    • Create Memorandums of Understanding with partners and local governmental agencies, as needed.
    • Invite other nearby resilience hubs, spaces and blocks to your events, to establish relationships and build trust with them.

    Step 7

    Keep Up The Momentum

    • Maintain (and expand upon) the five components through:
    • Regular communications and programming
    • Consistent feedback; and
    • Ongoing check-ins with community members and local governments.