Ignite SCRA 2015: Empowering Adaptable Communities

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Discussion

Abstract

For 50 years, Community Psychologists have been on the forefront of understanding and empowering the capacity of communities and individuals to to adapt and thrive. Emergent from this history of knowledge and practice is the idea of “adaptable communities.” Adaptable communities have the human, social and economic resources needed to proactively anticipate and manage changes – whether environmental, economic, or population based, leading to resilience and growth. This interactive and inspiring Town Hall will use an innovative presentation style to highlight work from community psychologists across the world to that contributes to creating more adaptable communities.

The first part of the session will feature five “Ignite” presentations from a broad diversity of participants. Ignite presentations consist of 20 slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds resulting in a brief and engaging 5 minute presentation. These presentations will include the Atlantic Center for Population Health Sciences’ (ACPHS) work on building community adaptability through advancing understanding of the process that various subgroups (e.g. older adults, caregivers, new parents, college students) undergo in adapting to new roles. Additionally, ways in which ACPHS is creating adaptable communities including hosting the Empowering Adaptable Communities Summit and Adaptability Innovation Action Awards will be discussed.

Following the presentations, each presenter will facilitate a discussion section in small groups. Participants will be able to choose which table(s) they want to visit. The focus will be to learn more about the presenter’s work, to ask questions and share ideas. Each presenter will provide a hand out with practical information for creating adaptable communities based upon their work.

This session will serve to catalyze learning and action around community adaptability. Presentations will be recorded via video and made available for dissemination post-event.

Sub Unit

• SCRA Biennial Meeting

Chair

• Chris Michael Kirk, Atlantic Health System

Presenters

• William Neigher, Atlantic Health System

• Sharon Johnson-Hakim, Atlantic Health System

• Ashley Anglin, Atlantic Health System

• Sherri Brokopp Binder, University of Hawaii at Manoa

• Craig C Brookins, North Carolina State University at Raleigh

• David Blumenkrantz, The Center for the Advancement of Youth, Family, & Community Services

• Patrizia Meringolo, University of Florence