As communities across the country navigate increasing complexity, from economic volatility to climate-related disruptions, the need for real-time, locally grounded data and coordinated response has never been greater. In this NationSwell Braintrust, we’ll explore how the Resiliency Hub in Pierce County is working to meet that need, offering a new model for how community foundations can operate as intermediaries that translate data into action.

Hosted in partnership with Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, this session will explore how Pierce County Washington, is piloting an integrated, data-driven approach to community resilience. We’ll examine how actionable, verifiable data, paired with cross-sector partnerships, can inform more responsive decision-making and surface emerging needs in real time.

From there, the conversation will open to a broader discussion: how are other communities approaching this challenge, where are similar models taking shape, and what would it take to adapt or scale this work across different geographies and systems? Participants will be invited to react to the model, share parallel efforts, and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

In doing so, the session will also consider what it looks like to support and learn from place-based innovation in real time, including how communities like Pierce County can serve as a proving ground for new approaches that others may engage with, invest in, or help bring to scale.

The goal is to both sharpen the Resiliency Hub strategy through peer insight and position Pierce County as a leading example of how place-based innovation can inform broader field-building and partnership opportunities.

NationSwell’s Virtual Roundtables and Braintrusts are built for members who are actively working on the issue at hand — including senior leaders, practitioners, and subject-matter experts — making them our most accessible format. The bar for the room isn’t seniority; it’s engagement with the topic. Registration may involve a brief approval step to ensure the conversation stays high-quality.

To encourage open and candid discussion, this event follows the Chatham House Rule – attendees may share insights from the conversation but cannot attribute statements to specific individuals or organizations. This ensures a trusted space for thoughtful dialogue and deeper insights.