​RESILIENT COMMUNITIES: Disaster Preparedness & Community Transformation

​Overview

​What makes communities resilient after disaster? Join Bay Area leaders exploring preparedness and community transformation.

​🌍 Friday, March 13 | 12PM | House by Edge & Node | Presidio, SF

​What if the next disaster didn’t weaken our communities—but actually made them stronger?

​Join us for the next INNOVAT3 Connected Communities Meetup as leaders from across the Bay Area gather for a conversation on Resilient Communities: Disaster Preparedness & Community Transformation.

​Too often, disaster preparedness is framed as a technical exercise focused on emergency plans and response systems. But the communities that recover best are not simply the ones with the most resources—they are the ones with the strongest relationships, trust, and collaboration across sectors.

​Preparing for disasters can strengthen the social fabric of a community long before a crisis ever occurs. When civic leaders, faith communities, nonprofits, businesses, and residents know each other and work together, communities are far more capable of responding effectively—and recovering more quickly.

​Through a panel discussion and collaborative dialogue, we will explore questions such as:

• ​What actually determines whether a community recovers quickly—or struggles for years after disaster

• ​How faith communities, nonprofits, civic institutions, and local government can collaborate effectively during crisis

• ​Lessons from real-world disaster response efforts across California

• ​Why the relational fabric of a community is the most important factor in long-term recovery

​This is not a traditional preparedness workshop. It is a leadership conversation for people who care about the long-term health and resilience of our communities.

​We especially encourage community leaders, nonprofit leaders, business leaders, technologists, civic leaders, and engaged citizens to attend—and to invite others from their networks who are committed to strengthening the Bay Area.

​A light lunch will be provided as we learn, connect, and explore how we can work together to build more resilient communities for the future.

​Featured Guests

​Adam Peacocke

​Adam Peacocke is a cornerstone of the Santa Rosa community, recognized for his instrumental role in the city’s widely praised response to the 2017 Tubbs Fire and subsequent recovery efforts. As a primary mover behind the faith community’s engagement, Adam helped lead Rebuilding Our Community (ROC) Sonoma County, transforming local networks into the “last mile” deliverers of essential services and long-term support. His work has been described by regional leaders as a “playbook for the long road to recovery,” establishing a level of unified collaboration between the faith community and local government that is unique in California.

​Currently serving as the Founder of FeatherVine and a leader with Transforming the Bay for Christ (TBC), Adam was recently honored with the prestigious 2024 Louis “Pete” Peterka Emergency Management Award for his exceptional contributions to regional preparedness. He operates on the core conviction that the single biggest factor in helping communities recover is the relational fabric of the community.

​Paul Peissner

​Paul Peissner is an unassuming yet powerhouse leader in the Bay Area whose impact on global and regional humanitarian efforts spans more than four decades. An original pioneer of Convoy of Hope, Paul served as one of the organization’s first volunteers, helping lay the foundation for what is now a world-renowned disaster relief agency.

​Currently serving as Tech Strategist & Community Innovator for Convoy of Hope, his work is uniquely informed by both the technology sector and his former role as Executive Director of CityServe Northern California. Paul is a co-founder of the INNOVAT3 Connected Communities Meetup and a key strategist helping integrate the faith community into California’s disaster response frameworks. His leadership bridges civic systems and community-led action through a rare combination of strategic insight and humble, behind-the-scenes service.

​Special Presentation

​Supervisor Cassandra James — Solano County Board of Supervisors

​Cassandra James represents District 1 on the Solano County Board of Supervisors and is the first millennial elected to the Board. A trailblazing leader from Vallejo, she has spent nearly two decades advocating for housing equity and the protection of vulnerable populations.

​Supervisor James also played a key role in launching the Solano County Movement Against Human Trafficking, bringing together government, nonprofits, faith communities, and civic leaders to strengthen regional collaboration and provide survivor-centered resources. Her work reflects a broader commitment to building partnerships that bridge public policy and grassroots action—ensuring communities are both just and resilient.

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​EVENT DETAILS

​📅 Friday,March 213
🕛 12:00–1:30 PM
📍The House by Edge & Node (Presidio)
Building 103, 103 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94129

​🥪 Lunch will be provided.

​💡 About the INNOVAT3 Connected Communities Partners

​The INNOVAT3 Connected Communities Meetup brings together innovators, technologists, social entrepreneurs, faith leaders, and civic leaders who believe that collaboration is the key to solving the Bay Area’s biggest challenges.

​If you care about the resilience and future of your community, we encourage you to attend—and to bring another leader from your network.

​Together, we can build communities that are not only prepared for crisis, but stronger because of it.

​Offchain Global

​OffChain is a global community with over 70 chapters around the world for Web3 professionals, tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. We welcome like-minded people to build and connect. Each chapter/city aims to have a base of regular casual social gatherings or speaking events so we can bridge and connect.

​​​​​​​Orbis86

​​​​Orbis86 is revolutionizing Web3 innovation through its Engage – Educate – Elevate approach, engaging users with personalized experiences, educating them on emerging technologies, and elevating their journey with seamless cross-chain integration. Throughout the year, we host global events that bring communities together to explore Web3 and AI, enabling meaningful discussions and collaboration. Our mission is to create an inclusive ecosystem where individuals can learn, grow, and shape the future of decentralized technology.