Maximizing the Benefits of the Technology Revolution for Vulnerable Communities
The technology revolution will create more wealth than anything in human history. Not everyone will benefit. The difference will not be technology alone. It will be whether communities are prepared to capture the opportunity — and whether technology leaders are smart enough to help them do it. The summer of 2026 may be remembered as a landmark moment in economic history. SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic are expected to enter public markets at valuations measured in trillions of
7 min read
How To Turn Around Public Opinion About Tech: It's Not Just About Philanthropy
By Stephen Jordan As of this writing, the eight richest people in the world all hail from the tech sector. Tech stocks are booming. So why do Americans have such a dim view of AI and the industry? The technology industry has produced extraordinary wealth, powerful companies, and tools that billions of people use every day. It has also produced a level of public suspicion that should concern anyone who cares about the sector's long-term influence. The question is no longer whe
5 min read
The Economic Realignment: Understanding the Shift in America's Landscape
For an out-of-towner, it's a little jarring to drive down I-95 around Miami and see billboards for the Yankees. However, with so many people moving from up north, it actually makes perfect sense. South Florida is now a top-tier Yankees market. The U.S. is developing two k-shaped economies. The income economy is the one everyone talks about. The 40% of Americans who own stock and capital assets are doing very well. In contrast, the 60% who live paycheck to paycheck are not far
5 min read
Tribal Nations Need Resilience and Recovery Support Too
Lynn Knight, CecD, ISD Chief Knowledge Officer In a previous post regarding FEMA’s evolving role, I mentioned that discussions that are underway at the Institute for Sustainable Development about the need for more formal education and training in disaster recovery — not just emergency management. My research into rural and tribal practices reinforced that view. Lately I’ve been researching how Tribal Nations are approaching disaster resilience, emergency management, and reco
2 min read
The Future of Disaster Resilience: Spotlight on Parametric Insurance with Alex Kaplan
Summary of ISD and StateBook April 15 webinar presentation by Alex Kaplan Executive Vice President for Alternative Risk, AmWINS Parametric Insurance: A New Tool for Disaster Recovery and Community Resilience According to NOAA, the natural disasters of 2023 and 2024 caused over $400 billion in economic damages. As extreme events continue to impact communities across the United States, economic development officials are searching for innovative financial tools to enhance disast
4 min read
The FEMA Review Council Has Issued Their Final Report. Are States Ready For It?
By Lynn Knight, CEcD, and Stephen Jordan — Institute for Sustainable Development The Final Report of the President’s Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency , released on May 7, confirms what many disaster recovery practitioners have recognized for years: states and local governments will increasingly be expected to lead disaster recovery, with the federal government serving in a more supporting role. The Council’s doctrine — “locally executed, state managed
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