Inform Decision Makers

Increase the number of government officials, practitioners, and community leaders receiving training and support to increase their capacity to adapt to environmental challenges.

A 2022 informal needs assessment by the Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) extension professionals revealed that key decision-makers—government, practitioner, and community leaders who influence or make policy decisions—require additional support to improve resilience and effectively manage Long Island Sound. These leaders need targeted training and education to build the necessary capacity, offer technical guidance, and create a more coordinated regional response to environmental challenges, including extreme weather events. 

Recent interest in Partnership-funded tools like the Long Island Sound Resilience Resource Hub, as well as strong attendance at SRC-organized trainings and events in 2023 and 2024, demonstrates a clear demand for guidance and coordination tailored to local needs. These initiatives, offered in various formats, will play a central role in empowering decision-makers and fostering regional collaboration. 

To ensure the continued resilience of Long Island Sound communities, the Partnership aims to engage 100 new decision-makers each year through these targeted trainings and resources. 

Actions

• Develop, deliver, and facilitate training programs relevant and responsive to community needs that assist with sustainability and resilience. 
• Support community-centered research, monitoring, and development of tools to assess impacts from extreme weather events and a changing climate and advance resilience. 

Programs