CEAR Hub Champions Community-Led Resilience at the Georgia Resiliency Conference

CEAR Hub was proud to play an active role in this year’s Georgia Resiliency Conference, hosted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The biennial event brought together several hundred attendees—from local, state, and federal agencies to community organizations, academia, and the private sector—to explore strategies for building a more resilient Georgia.

Over the two-day conference, CEAR Hub contributed to five sessions focused on community engagement, education, and tools and technology. Across these sessions, we highlighted the power of community-led projects and partnerships, emphasizing the value of collaboration and shared leadership in resilience efforts.

Thanks to CEAR Hub’s support, ten community leaders and youth representatives from Savannah Youth City, Sowing Seeds Outside the Walls, Pin Point Betterment Association, Community Church Atlanta, and Coastal Outreach Soccer were able to attend and present at the conference. Our sessions also included speakers from Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, EcoGeorgia, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, and Georgia Tech—underscoring the importance of cross-sector collaboration.

Insights from the conference wrap-up, particularly from the Community Engagement sessions organized by CEAR Hub Resilience Planning Director Kait Morano, distilled key “Secrets to Success” for advancing community-led resilience:

• Approach with curiosity—ask communities what they need.

• Identify and support champions who care deeply, know their communities, and celebrate shared success.

• Diversify relationships in the community to ensure benefits reach throughout.

• Recognize that shifting power must be intentional, and true partnership means walking beside communities as they lead.

• Uplift youth voices and address systemic issues like heirs property rights.

• And as one speaker noted, “When you think about the flora and fauna, don’t forget about the folk.”

Another highlight of the conference was keynote speaker Dr. Wayne Clough, President Emeritus of Georgia Tech and former Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who underscored the importance of protecting Georgia’s coastal ecosystems and shared a compelling vision for their conservation.

CEAR Hub’s presence and contributions reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting community-driven resilience and ensuring that the voices shaping Georgia’s future include those most affected by its challenges and opportunities.