2025 CDS Annual Conference

This presentation documents the development, launch, and outline of the 10-month intergenerational master volunteer program for Community Resilience Builders in Orange County, NY, offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension. Community Builders learn to apply frameworks, strategies, and tools that build resilient and just communities in their respective fields of work, areas of interest, and environments. This program is for everyone who wants to "do" something, is interested in personal growth, and in supporting communities to navigate challenges related to public and mental health, climate change, community and economic vitality, equity, education, public safety, and public policy. 
How the presentation relates to Innovative Pathways to Thriving Communities?
The Community Resilience Builder Program speaks to Innovative Pathways to Thriving Communities by fostering transformative practices that empower individuals and communities to tackle systemic challenges and achieve sustainable well-being.
The program's people-driven solutions emphasize inclusivity and collaboration and invite diverse participants—ranging from educators to community activists—to learn, apply, and share resilience-building strategies. Through experiential learning, participants explore frameworks for equity, belonging, and well-being, empowering them to create environments where diverse voices shape community progress.
Additionally, the program highlights place-based collaboration by equipping participants to lead initiatives tailored to their unique community contexts. Training modules, such as conflict resolution, leadership styles, and community café facilitation, provide practical tools for fostering collective action and dialogue. This approach enables knowledge sharing and resource pooling across sectors and geographies.
Lastly, the program integrates innovative practices that take emerging technologies like AI into account as a factor that impacts community resilience when addressing modern challenges. For example, participants gain insights into the science of resilience and regenerative environments, allowing them to apply cutting-edge principles in areas such as climate adaptation, mental health, and economic vitality. The use of platforms like Moodle for resource sharing also reflects a commitment to technological integration.
By cultivating community-driven leadership, adaptive strategies, and equity-centered action, the Community Resilience Builder Program contributes to creating sustainable, flourishing communities—an essential goal of the "innovation corridors" this conference seeks to promote.