Building Resilient Communities

cll243
Jul 30
2 min read

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited to share a new statewide leadership initiative developed through Cornell Cooperative Extension to support Executive Directors, Issue and Program Leaders, and Resource Educators in strengthening the resilience of the communities we serve.

Drawing on her work as a Family and Community Resilience Educator and Team Leader in Family and Community Development at CCE Orange, her Ph.D. in Sustainability Education, and years of experience designing and facilitating collaborative community-building initiatives across New York State, Dr. Julika von Stackelberg developed the Building Resilient Communities through Extension Leadership Program to equip CCE leaders with practical tools for navigating today’s complex challenges.

As you know from your work in your counties, communities are experiencing unprecedented change, from artificial intelligence and climate impacts to increasing social polarization and economic uncertainty. Extension leaders are uniquely positioned to convene partners, strengthen relationships, and foster locally driven solutions. This six-month hybrid leadership program provides participants with systems-thinking frameworks, participatory leadership practices, and community resilience strategies that can be applied immediately within their counties and regions.

Participants will engage in a highly interactive learning experience that combines evidence-based approaches with practical application, enabling them to build stronger partnerships, facilitate collaborative action, and support more connected, equitable, and climate-resilient communities. Any CCE employee serving in a leadership role, including formal, volunteer, or community leadership, with supervisor approval is welcome to apply. Because this pilot cohort is limited to 15 participants, selection will be based on the application.

The inaugural cohort launches with an in-person intensive session on October 14 and 15, 2026. The program concludes in March 2027, with bi-monthly Zoom sessions.

Program dates:

In-person Program Launch

October 14-15, 2026, in Van Etten, NY

Zoom Sessions are all held at 2 PM on the following dates:

October 24

November 10 & 24

December 8 & 22

January 5 &19

February 2 & 16

March 2

In-person Public Presentation and Graduation

March 17-18, 2027, in Ithaca, NY