On September 13, 60 Washington and Hancock County community members across 43 partners, including business leaders, nonprofits, foundations, and municipal organizations, gathered for Community Pathways & Practices for Bounce-Forward Resilience, a micro-summit with the goal of learning, discussing and imagining what innovative pathways and practices are possible to build the “bounce-forward” resilience that our communities will need over the next 15 years.
“Bounce-forward” resilience is a term used in contrast to “bounce back,” and encourages the use of new approaches to deal with complex problems that our communities face, such as coastal flooding or housing shortages, instead of going back to the same solutions that have been used in the past. Discussions around how to encourage bounce-forward resilience were set against the backdrop of a conversation on 2040 demographic trends, as well as challenging current assumptions about economic development and community resilience. One participant shared the importance of “getting communities to understand and accept that we need to look forward, not back, and be strategic about what the future looks like and what we can and can not control.”
The event was the capstone of a three-part series focused on sustainable prosperity. The previous two events were held online via Zoom, while the third in-person event was designed to catalyze conversations related to shifting our local economic development ecosystem to adapt to a changing world and support greater resilience and practices at the local level. “The importance of connection and building relationships” was reflected by an attendee who also stated, ”We tend to know this in our work, but to take time and truly consider, with more strategy and thoughtfulness, who our partners are and how we can work best together.”
The event was organized by Downeast Innovation Network (DEIN), and sponsored by Maine Community Foundation, Sunrise County Economic Council, and Machias Savings Bank and took place at the Woodlawn Barn and Events Center in Ellsworth, ME.
DEIN’s purpose is to support and inspire a professional group of Downeast “ambassadors, connectors and navigators” who serve entrepreneurs and small businesses in Washington and Hancock counties. Since 2018 DEIN has provided virtual or in-person gatherings for network peers to connect, share ideas, and learn about formal and informal resources available through their respective organizations. It brings together economic development and other sector leaders from across the region and state to expand connections and collaborations.
If you would like to join the Downeast Innovation Network, please visit bit.ly/dein-signup to sign up and be notified of future events.