This CERI project, led by the MSU Extension Land Use Team, will be a live webinar series, consisting of six interactive online sessions, to aid communities in addressing COVID-19 and other hazardous environments using the MSU/MSU Extension Land Use Team's existing knowledge base, land-use programs, as well as environmental and social resiliency planning.
The Michigan State University Extension and School of Planning, Design and Construction Team (The Team) received grant funding from CERI in 2020 to support and develop a new ‘thought-leader webinar series for 2021 pertaining to Resiliency Planning. Since August of 2020, the Team has met regularly to develop the themes of the series, to identify potential speakers, and arrange staff support for the effort. The grant funding supports two graduate and undergraduate internships charged with completing background research on regional comprehensive economic development plans, arranging webinar speakers and logistics, and aiding in the marketing of the series. During this time, the Team composed six interactive online sessions, all related to resiliency planning.
We begin with a historic survey of past epidemics, the lessons learned in relation to land use planning, and how these emergencies shape the way we plan our communities. The second session will focus on planning for recovery and vitality, either in response to an emergency or as a preventive measure. The third session brings together planning for greater levels of social health, health equity, and climate change showcasing proven planning tools that increase equitable outcomes. The fourth session focuses on planning for green infrastructure, shorelines, and habitat protection. Our fifth session will involve key elements of the built environment, including considerations for resilient transit, broadband, crime prevention, safe public spaces, and other infrastructure systems. Our sixth and final session will emphasize the skill and nuance needed within communities to plan for known hazards and to understand elements that need to be sustained versus elements that need to be modified to protect our communities. We will end the sixth session with a review of key takeaways from the entire series seen through the lens of regional economic planning.
More information and presenters coming soon!