The Resilient Vermont Network (RVT) was first formed experimentally in 2015 under the direction of the Institute for Sustainable Communities. From 2017, under the leadership of the Center for Global Resilience and Security (CGRS) at Norwich University, RVT embarked on a new phase of coordinating and supporting resilience work in Vermont. Since 2017, CGRS has also supported the RVT by hosting professional development workshops for Community Resilience Organizations (CROs), participating in Vermont's State Hazard Mitigation planning process, including hosting a working group meeting, and leading the development of an Academic Resilience Collaborative (ARC) that would bring Vermont researchers into communities to minimize or solve Vermont's resilience challenges.

Resilient Vermont Conference

Resilient Vermont 2025: Securing Resilient Communities

Bringing together community leaders and groups working to celebrate and strengthen Vermont’s resilience.

The conference will be organized around three critical sub-themes:

  • Climate Resilience - Sessions in this track will explore the challenges and opportunities of addressing climate change at the local level. Topics may include:
    • Strategies for disaster preparedness and recovery
    • Sustainable infrastructure and green initiatives
    • Community-based approaches to climate adaptation
  • Human Health Resilience - This track focuses on safeguarding the health and well-being of small municipal populations. Topics may include:
    • Public health preparedness and emergency response
    • Building mental health resilience in communities
    • Addressing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes
  • Technological Resilience - Sessions in this track will examine how technology can bolster resilience in small municipalities. Topics may include:
    • Smart cities and technology-driven solutions
    • Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection
    • Leveraging data for informed decision-making

 

Call for Session Proposals

In order to promote a more collaborative atmosphere at this year's conference, we invite individuals and members of our community to submit session proposals for the 2025 event. Proposals will be reviewed by members of the Norwich University and University of Vermont planning team and selected based on how well they adhere to the conference theme and stated outcomes. Deadline for submission: May 1, 2025.

Submission Guidelines:
We invite proposals for interactive sessions, workshops, panels, and presentations that align with the conference theme and sub-themes. Proposals should include:

  • Session title
  • Brief abstract (250-300 words)
  • Session format (e.g., panel, workshop, presentation)
  • Target audience and expected outcomes
  • Speaker(s) information (name, title, affiliation, and contact information)

Deadline for Submission: May 1, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: June 2, 2025
Conference Date: Friday, September 12, 2025
Location: Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont

How to Submit:
Please submit your proposal via our submission form by May 1, 2025

We look forward to receiving your proposals and collaborating to create a conference that inspires, informs, and equips small municipalities to navigate resilience challenges and opportunities.

For questions or further information, please contact Megan Liptak, Assistant Director – Research Centers at nucgrs@norwich.edu.

Past Conferences

A Resilient Vermont conference will bring together community leaders, neighbors and groups that are working to strengthen Vermont's resilience to climate change and other challenges. The conference will help people connect, learn about success stories and best practices, and gain skills and resources to boost resilience on the ground. Geared toward municipal leaders, organizations and agencies working on resilience, the conference will address social, environmental, economic and physical strategies for helping our communities reduce impacts on people, places, and property and recover faster after disasters.

CGRS RVT LOGO
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Resilient Vermont 2024: After the Floods

The Vermont floods in the summer of 2023 highlighted the broad and ongoing need for investments in systems that support our health, safety, and wellbeing. This year’s conference will draw from a range of novel perspectives on resilience, while challenging our attendees to see how the insights and tools derived from these perspectives can be incorporated into our response to environmental, social and economic threats.

Watch Featured Panels
Resilient VT 2022 Logo
Friday, May 20, 2022

Resilient Vermont 2022: Looking to the Past to Plan for the Future

A conference for Vermonters seeking to engage with each other, their communities, and the state at large through meaningful and interdisciplinary discussions and problem-solving. Join us for this one-day event as we look to the past to plan for our future.

Watch Opening Session