Past Events

Shelter in the Storm: Creating Community Resilience Hubs

By June 17, 2025June 23rd, 2025No Comments

Tuesday, June 17th, at 1 pm ET via Zoom



Tuesday, June 17th, at 1 pm ET via Zoom – The Central Appalachian Network and ReImagine Appalachia held the second webinar in a series exploring disaster resiliency in Appalachia. In this webinar, we explored how communities, houses of worship, local governments and more can be transformed into resilience hubs, which help communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters. These hubs can provide safe spaces, clean energy through solar panels and battery storage, and other precautions when weather events, outages, and other problems strike.




This event also included information on the Central Appalachian Network’s new mini-grant program that aims to increase capacity for local communities to implement disaster resilience planning and programming, as well as the launch of the Central Appalachian Networks new Resilience Hub Resource List. 

Here are the future events in the series and how to register:

We are thinking of those impacted by the floods in the Wheeling, WV area. You can get updates on how to help at the Ohio Valley Mutual Aid organization – https://link.edgepilot.com/s/2aacb07c/kAyEv2eog0_-0xsfZEyMtw?u=https://www.instagram.com/ovmutualaid/ – and donate here: Mutual Aid Links for Wheeling and Morgantown

As discussed, here is a follow-up with all of the presentations, links, and other important information shared during the call. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need help with anything, ReImagine Appalachia is happy to be of assistance!

You can view a recording of the webinar via zoom. Here is a list of our speakers and their presentations: 

  • Austin Counts, SWVA Solar & Electrification Projects Manager, Appalachian Voices
  • Baylen Campbell,  Invest Appalachia’s Director of Programs & Partnerships 
  • Chief Apostle Dr. Robert L. Haley, III and Elder Denise White at A More Excellent Way Life Center Church on Charleston’s West Side
  • Randi Gabbert, Community Development Specialist, Appalachian Sustainable Development re: Appalachian Sustainable Development and the Four Seasons YMCA in Tazewell

o    Presentation: Growing for a Stronger Appalachia – Appalachian Sustainable Development

o    Links to learn more about project leaders: Appalachian Sustainable Development and their partners at the Four Seasons YMCA

o    Recommended link to learn more about Resilience hubs and best practices: Resilience Hubs – USDN: Urban Sustainability Directors Network

  • Lou Wallace – Elected Supervisor at Russell County Board of Supervisors about work in the town of Dante, VA and a campground community hub