DTSC Lab / Projects
Community Resilience Initiative
A community-centered system of learning, credentials, field documentation, and shared practice for disaster recovery and resilient construction.
In this project
01 Overview
Status Active · Pilot phase
Pilots Jacksonville · Gainesville · Cedar Key
Partners UF · FIBER · Green Advantage
Support Gulf Research Program, National Academies
A community-centered initiative
Learning that connects knowledge with responsible action
Recovery decisions affect safety, health, housing, infrastructure, livelihoods, and the long-term strength of communities. Different participants need practical, role-appropriate ways to build knowledge and demonstrate what they can do.
The long-term vision is an accessible and affordable credentialing ecosystem that combines a shared foundation in hazards, safety, ethics, sustainability, documentation, and coordination with role-specific learning pathways — supporting construction-related personnel, residents and homeowners, community helpers and volunteers, businesses and employers, and public agencies.
Learn — practical resilience skills
Modular learning strengthens environmental literacy, health and safety, ethical conduct, sustainable rebuilding, coordination, and community-centered recovery.
Demonstrate — evidence-informed assessment
Gamified activities, simulations, photo-based documentation, and responsible AI-assisted tools help learners practice and document applied skills.
Improve — shared knowledge & analytics
A dynamic repository and exchange platform supports peer learning, field documentation, evaluation, analytics, and continuous improvement.
Why this matters
Recovery capacity is built before, during, and after a disaster
Communities are stronger when residents, employers, volunteers, public agencies, and skilled professionals can make informed decisions, coordinate responsibly, and recognize the limits of their roles. The initiative aims to:
Safer rebuilding
Support safer rebuilding and repair practices, and expand affordable, accessible learning for varied audiences.
Workforce meets community
Connect workforce development with community priorities, through mobile-first and multilingual pathways.
A shared foundation, tailored pathways
Not turning every participant into a technical specialist — helping people understand hazards, work safely, document conditions, collaborate, and know when qualified professional support is required.
Built to scale
A practical foundation for regional adaptation and national scaling.
Residents
Workforce
Volunteers
Employers
Public agencies
Florida pilot locations
Learning with communities in varied contexts
JAX
Jacksonville
Large urban and coastal context.
GNV
Gainesville
Inland community and university context.
CK
Cedar Key
Small coastal community context.
From pilots to wider impact — lessons from pilot engagement inform adaptable partnerships with universities, government agencies, workforce organizations, industry associations, resilience networks, and community-based organizations.
Guidance and delivery
Distinct roles, shared purpose
DB
Disaster Resilience Credentialing Board
Volunteer advisory body
Provides strategic guidance, cross-sector insight, and community perspective. Its work is broader and ongoing, with approximately 15 members anticipated.
PT
Project Leadership and Team
Direction & delivery
Leads day-to-day research, engagement, curriculum development, learning design, evaluation, credentialing coordination, partnerships, and implementation.
Explore and engage
Find your pathway into the initiative
01
Disaster Resilience Credentialing Board
Meet the volunteer advisors providing strategic guidance, community perspective, and cross-sector expertise.
02
Project Leadership & Team
The people leading research, engagement, curriculum, design, evaluation, credentialing, and implementation.
03
Future Board Nominations
Nominate a qualified candidate — or yourself — for consideration when future Board vacancies arise.
04
Focused Advisory Roles
Contribute expertise through a special committee, working group, external review, or other targeted role.
05
Collaboration & Participation
Pathways for colleges and universities, nonprofits, employers, agencies, associations, insurers, and networks.
06
Stay Informed
Receive pilot updates, nomination notices, events, and collaboration opportunities.
Frequently asked questions
About the initiative
Is this a current credentialing program?
The initiative is developing and testing a broader credentialing and learning ecosystem. Public pages distinguish work in development from credentials or services that are already available.
Who is it intended to serve?
Construction and resilience professionals, residents and homeowners, volunteers and community helpers, employers and businesses, public agencies, workforce partners, educators, and community-serving organizations.
Can I nominate myself for a future role?
Yes. Self-nominations are welcome for future Board vacancies and for focused advisory opportunities that may be established as project needs arise.
How is Board service different from committee service?
Full Board service is broader and ongoing. Special committee, working-group, or external-advisor service is narrower, periodic, and focused on a defined topic or project need.
How can an institution or organization participate?
The Collaborate page describes potential pathways for colleges, universities, public agencies, nonprofits, employers, associations, insurers, resilience networks, and community-serving organizations.
Interested in this work?
We welcome community partners, institutions, and prospective collaborators.