Dr. Laskey will speak about George Mason's Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (C-RASC which brings together researchers and practitioners from diverse, sustainable backgrounds to address locally led resilience and sustainability initiatives supported by effective, replicable models. Accelerating rates of technological, social, and climate change are placing unprecedented stresses on communities. These stresses demand an integrated approach to fostering resilience. As the world becomes ever more interconnected, the information technology revolution has created disruptive change, but also offers the opportunity for unprecedented good. Enhanced connectivity and digital opportunity are key elements of community resilience in today’s world. C-RASC’s community-focused approach to digital opportunity harmonizes with the People Centered Internet’s vision of an Internet that is a positive force for enhanced well-being of all people.

David Witzel is a coordinator of the Global Regeneration CoLab, a founder of the Regenerative Agriculture Sector Accelerator, formerly with EDF (Environmental Defense Fund), and a  founder of web development firm Forum One Communications. He was infected by the Regeneration meme about 7 years ago and is committed to understanding and advancing it. He wrote Designing Open Projects: Lessons From Internet Pioneers.