Smart Cities Dive: Former 100 Resilient Cities execs create new nonprofit

Many local governments and private partners were shocked when The Rockefeller Foundation announced in April 2019 that it was shuttering 100 Resilient Cities and transitioning to separate operations. Berkowitz said in an interview that RCC is not designed to replicate the former group’s work, but to reflect how the field of urban resilience has grown. 

"We’ve been lucky enough to see this field grow and expand, with a network of cities,” Berkowitz told Smart Cities Dive. "We’ve seen the power of a chief resilience officer, we’ve seen the power of a strategy and roadmap. What’s really important now is that cities take action and implement their priorities."

Governments have increasingly been appointing resilience officers or crafting resiliency plans, not just to tackle climate change, but to also prepare for smaller shocks like earthquakes or terrorist attacks. Berkowitz said he has especially seen governments working across silos to look at systemic factors beyond infrastructure — including economics and demographics — that could affect a city’s preparedness for an event. 

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www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/resilient-cities-catalyst-nonprofit-michael-berkowitz/571279/