Disaster Resilience

In 2025, LiKEN deepened our commitment to building livelihoods of care across Appalachia, along the coast of Louisiana, throughout the diverse cultural and geographic regions across the United States, and around the globe. Guided by community needs, we expanded our team, strengthened cross–sector partnerships, advanced intercultural climate and water research, and continued to build resources that improve local livelihoods. LiKENeers gathered at Experience Learning in Spruce

Summer is always a busy time for LiKEN, and this year has been no different. From creek clean ups and youth paddle camps to Tribal-led...

To put a positive spin on the saying about a “road to hell,” however, I believe we need a “road through hell” here. Because hell does not have to be the endpoint—it is not too late for us to sit back, reflect, take stock of everything, and be proactive toward longer term systemic change—even if it feels like the house is burning down around you.

LiKEN Program Updates, Spring 2025 At LiKEN, our work is rooted in relationships to place, to people, and to the knowledge that connects...

By Itzel Flores Castillo Wang, LiKEN Disaster Resilience Program Assistant “We all bury our dead together, we all raise our children...

Frontline Flood Relief in Leslie County by Matthew Sparks Middle fork of the Kentucky River in front of Leslie County High School (Photo credit: Matthew Sparks) Your second catastrophic flood hits differently. Especially when it literally hits your hometown. I consider most of southeastern Kentucky my home—like many deeply rooted families here, I’m connected by blood or marriage or the Appalachian experience to most of the surrounding counties. This kinship compelled me to ac

LiKENeer Brandon Jent’s Poetry and Appalachian Resilience Brandon Jent shares his work at the Hindman Settlement School's Appalachian...

Climate Resilience Program Fall 2024 Update The Climate Resilience program has experienced a year of dynamic growth and impactful...

Updates from the 12th Annual Rising Voices Workshop and the "Learning from Indigenous NCA Authors & Future Involvement Opportunities" webina

RICHMOND, Ky. – As of July 11, 2023, in an extraordinary stride towards a safer world, the last of the United States’ once-vast chemical...

By Julie Maldonado The climate crisis is ravaging communities nationwide and disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, and People...

By Jackie Rigley I became a research assistant for LiKEN in January of 2020 and I was looking forward to attending Rising Voices 8 in...

“Climate change is the existential crisis of our time, and it’s clear that our current system is failing those who most need—and...

We’ve spoken with over 100 thought leaders across all industries and sectors to understand the most impactful strategies for combating...

It is almost dark. The sky is a dusky blue, and meets the murky waters of Lake Superior at the horizon line. Elongated grey waves...

Climate Change Policy: Bigger Picture Policies Under the banner of a just transition, we’ve seen some great work to develop things like...