Leland Senior Associate Lizzy Caston Attends Inaugural Resilient Partnership Catalyst, a Gathering in New Orleans

Lizzy Caston, Leland Senior Associate, recently had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans, Louisiana to speak at and participate in the inaugural Resilient Partnership Catalyst, a 3-day event to gather, idea share and support each other in the work we do. Nearly 90 people representing close to 70 organizations from all corners of the United States came together, not just to talk, but to actively build connections, exchange ideas, show real world examples, and explore how we can partner more effectively to create stronger, more resilient communities.

This event, hosted in collaboration with Tulane University School of Social Work and partners including the United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Resilient US, was intentionally designed to go beyond a typical conference format. It was about catalyzing action. Lizzy states, “I was especially grateful to connect with those doing the work at all levels from work being done by Tribal Indigenous communities, to researchers and academics, to nonprofits, as well as local, state, federal government leaders. Big thanks Bradley Dean from Tulane University and the other event organizers and sponsors for such a thoughtful, well run, and impactful event.”

Resilience, in the context of urban planning, community development, and economic development, is more than just a buzzword—it’s a comprehensive, forward-thinking approach to address the need for resiliency in the work we do as we continue to face a myriad local and global uncertainties and disruptions. At its core, resilience means preparing communities to anticipate, withstand, and recover from these disruptions and challenges, whether those are natural disasters, economic shocks, or long-term social stressors. In Lizzy’s work as a board member with lower9.org and as a Senior Associate at Leland Consulting Group working around the U.S., she sees firsthand how this plays out and ways we can strengthen the work we do but incorporating resilience, not as an add on, but into the core of our work.

In urban planning, resilience shows up in how we design cities—through infrastructure that can adapt to climate impacts, public spaces that serve communities in multiple ways, and housing strategies that prioritize long-term stability. In community development, it’s about strengthening social networks, ensuring equity, and empowering local voices so communities can respond and recover together. And in economic development, resilience means building diverse, adaptable economies that can absorb shocks and continue to provide opportunity and prosperity.

“One of the biggest takeaways for me from this gathering was the power of collaboration, knowledge exchange and sharing across sectors. The challenges our communities face are complex, but when planners, nonprofits, educators, and private sector leaders come together with shared purpose, real solutions begin to emerge. We heard many stories of real world implementation in resilience and how it empowers communities and their governments when we see ideas turn into real action,” Lizzy states.

Lizzy left New Orleans feeling both humbled and hopeful. She reflected, “If this event proved anything, it’s that resilience and innovation isn’t built in isolation—it’s built through partnerships, persistence, and a shared commitment to a better future.”