Explore Our Menus

The Community Resilience Menu is divided into three menus – (1) Agriculture & Local Food Systems, (2) Built & Natural Environment Menu, and (3) Energy Efficiency & Renewables Menu.  Each menu follows a similar format with important definitions and detailed explanations and a series of strategies communities can pursue to become more resilient. Our menus also include an assessment tool to help identify strategies and goals appropriate for your community.

Diversity & Inclusion

People are not equally impacted by the effects of the changing climate. Understanding societal inequities and ways to identify and address them will lead to greater resilience for the community as a whole. Inequities can be associated with poverty, age, race, gender, health, education, disabilities, and social status. For example, some households and businesses are located in settings that are more vulnerable to flooding, heat exposure, or pollutants. Some are not able to moderate their living space to reduce impacts from extreme temperatures, cool their homes with air conditioning and fans, or repair buildings that harbor mold following a flood.

It is important to consider how different cultures are connected to different communities and species of animals and plants in decision-making processes. Learning about the breadth of views and perspectives associated with species or locations will enrich the entire community.

Identifying equitable policies and programs that are suitable to a community begins with garnering many perspectives among a diverse group of people who are gathered together for discussions about the problems and potential solutions. Because equity is such a critically important topic, the authors of this menu suggest considering equity with each item on this resilience menu. Like a glass of water during a meal, equity should be included with each course of the menu.


Organization

Each menu is further divided into sub-sections.  For example, the Food & Agriculture Menu is divided into food availability, food waste management, and climate-and-farm friendly food systems subsections. Within each theme’s section and subsections is a series of topics. Each Menu has a definition or explanation and a series of strategies organized in a menu format (i.e., Water, Appetizers, Lighter Fare, Entrée, Dessert, and Drinks) where links and resources (e.g., additional information, examples, case studies, best practices) are provided. Where appropriate, topics are cross-referenced between themes.


Menu Format

Glass of Water

Water Glass – Like a glass of water during a meal, equity should be included with each course of the menu. As you explore each menu, consider the most vulnerable populations within your community. Be sure to include and prioritize these groups as you develop and plan your efforts.

Appetizers

Appetizers provide education and information ideas and resources. These are intended to be some of the first steps a community can take to address certain subsections.

Lighter Fare

Lighter Fare is focused on strategies and accompanying resources that usually will not require intensive staff capacity, fiscal resources, and may be done through staff decisions.

Entree

Entrees are “main courses” of strategies that may require more staff capacity, increased fiscal resources, and larger, possibly cohesive decisions.

Dessert

Desserts are actions and strategies for communities to celebrate and keep momentum going. They will help address positive outcomes of previous strategies taken and inspire further action.

Drinks

Drinks help communities support actions through financial means such as grants and other resources.


Explore Our Menus

The Community Resilience Menu is divided into three menus – (1) Agriculture & Local Food Systems, (2) Built & Natural Environment, and (3) Energy Efficiency & Renewables.  Each menu follows a similar format with important definitions and detailed explanations and a series of strategies communities can pursue to become more resilient. Our menus also include an assessment tool to help identify strategies and goals appropriate for your community.


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