About Building Resilient Neighbourhoods
Building Resilient Neighbourhoods (BRN) is a nonprofit organization based in British Columbia, Canada. We build community resilience by engaging cross-sectoral partnerships, to help strengthen social connections and collaborative action among neighbours.
What we do
Since 2012, BRN has been developing and testing different on-the-ground programs to help build neighbour connections and community resilience. Our flagship “Neighbour-to-Neighbour” programs—delivered by BRN and our network of partners—bring neighbours together to strengthen social connections, foster mutual support, and become better prepared for and resilient to different kinds of emergencies and chronic stresses.
In recent years, we have begun scaling these approaches across British Columbia and beyond, through partnerships with community-based organizations, housing operators, and government agencies.
Design & develop
Workshops, toolkits, guides and programs.
Incubate & evaluate
Innovative approaches, pilot projects and impacts.
Convene & facilitate
Collaborative partnerships and learning communities.
Train & coach
Community resilience building approaches.
Promote & share
Research, best practices, and stories.
Our team
Molly Rose
Program & Curriculum Designer
Vrindy Spencer
Equity Consultant and Facilitator
Ana Méndez
Resilience Coordinator
Pat Steiner
Resilience Facilitator
Maggie Hodge Kwan
Evaluation Specialist
Ame-Lia Tamburrini
Facilitator of Programs and Partnerships
Gagan Leekha
Project Manager
Partners
Partner with us
We believe that the best way to build community resilience is through cross-sector collaborations. BRN facilitates a growing network of partners working to strengthen social connections and mutual support among neighbours in their communities. We are always excited to find new partners who:
Current and past funders
Land honouring
Building Resilient Neighbourhoods is based on the unceded territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples.
We acknowledge the impact of colonialism in perpetuating isolation and disconnection among Indigenous Peoples. This historical outcome arises from deliberate measures, such as the prohibition of cultural practices, community fragmentation, and the erosion of familial and language ties. We recognize that emergencies, whether acute or chronic, disproportionately affect IBPOC (Indigenous, Black, People of Colour) communities. Recognizing that achieving community resilience necessitates unlearning colonial practices to dismantle these systems of oppression, we stand dedicated to fostering equitable, just, and resilient communities.