Ultimate Objective of the Week of Meetings

Initiation of cross-sectoral community building and development of near, mid- and long-term visions as part of the regional ‘Harnessing the Heartland’ (HtH) concept that can be disseminated and shared with decision makers at all levels.

Day 1 Workshop Objective

Initiate both the process of building community across the Heartland and setting context by coming together to listen to, learn from, and share with others information and perspective regarding human and environmental health and well-being research, technology and outreach work underway locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally.

Day 2 Community Climate Resilience Symposium Objective

Listen to, learn from and sharing with end-user stakeholders from multiple sectors regarding climate resilience concerns. Opportunity to hear directly from those entities that ‘walk the last mile’ of collating and sharing actionable information to the ultimate end users – everyday people, businesses, and decision makers.

Day 3 Workshop Objective

Focus on and develop action plans around current and future Integrative research, tech, and outreach activities in a more informed way to create shared situational awareness across all sectors (academic, private/commercial, local, state, federal) informed by the priorities of end-user, academic, commercial, and governmental stakeholders.

Day 4 Environmental Health Workshop

Detail existing assets and efforts related to Climate Impacts on Human Health - Water, Air Quality/Atmospheric Composition, Heat/Extreme Temperatures – creating situational awareness regarding what everybody across the region can bring to the table.

Day 5 Environmental Health Workshop

Point toward future integrative, regional collaborative efforts in a more informed way while identifying existing gaps and research/resource needs (all sectors—academic, private/commercial, local, state, federal government).

Workshop Deliverables

Workshop report designed to inform decision makers and a plan for future HtH planning and implementation activities and that details: emerging, consensus-based umbrella vision; assets and activities in hand, under development and still outstanding.