ICLEI USA launched the Colorado Resilience Engine (CORE) Internship Program with dual goals: 1) building capacity among Colorado local governments and 2) training the next generation of resilience leaders. With support from the CO-WY Ascend Engine, Innosphere, the National Science Foundation, and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the program placed five graduate-level interns with local governments across Colorado. Each host community identified a real-world resilience challenge that would become their interns’ project for the next 6 to 8 months. Learn more about these projects – and how the CORE interns are contributing to local disaster readiness, sustainability, and climate action efforts – in this blog series.
Lafayette
Located just east of Boulder, Lafayette has grown from its mining town roots into a vibrant, diverse community of more than 30,000 residents. The city has long prioritized environmental stewardship and community well-being; and today one of its most important goals is advancing resilience planning in ways that serve all residents equally.
This summer, Brooke Miller has been serving as a Sustainability Intern with the City of Lafayette, supporting efforts to design and implement resilience hubs. Resilience hubs are community spaces enhanced to offer services on a daily basis, as well as before, during, and after climate disruptions.
One of Brooke’s most important learning moments has been realizing how central community connection is to resilience. “I used to think about preparedness on an individual level, having alerts set up or a personal plan. But I’ve learned that approaching climate disruptions from a community standpoint can be even more important. Knowing your neighbors is one of the most effective tools. Neighbors can share information, check in, and support one another during disruptions,” she said.
Looking ahead, Brooke is excited to convene community focus groups this fall and draft an implementation plan for resilience hub development. The plan will outline actionable steps the city can take to bring hubs to life, ensuring that the work she’s been part of continues well beyond her internship.
Reflecting on her CORE experience, Brooke emphasized the power of collaboration: “Nothing is accomplished alone. Whether it’s connecting with community partners, working across city departments, or collaborating with other municipalities, resiliency is achieved through teamwork and a shared mission.”
Brooke’s contributions are helping Lafayette build momentum toward a strong resilience hub network, while she herself is building the skills and perspective to carry forward a career in sustainability and climate resilience.
