News, Articles, Podcast and More

Welcome to another edition of the Crisis Lab Newsletter. This edition highlights the need for agile and flexible professional development programs - where we can find balance between rapid learning and structured, accredited courses.

Next we dive into our latest podcast with one of our very own Crisis Lab instructors, Vitālijs Raksti?? , as we discuss the theme of the Crisis Lab course - Resilience to Resistance: Lessons from Ukraine. It's time we start to think about Resilience in a new light, one that is a spectrum or scale that takes us from our daily lives and challenges, up through a crisis, national security event, into our own community resilience, and into overall societal resilience amongst major disruptions or conflict.

And we will close out with a news update that we just picked up on recently. If you still believe that our communities are not connected to global issues, then we have a lot to talk about. While all disasters are local, our systems and structures we use to support our lifestyle are global. Check out the news update below for an example as to how our communities are impacted by global events.

Bridging the Gap: The Urgent Need for Dynamic Professional Development Programs

In today's fast-paced professional landscape, we find ourselves at a crossroads. On one side, traditional academic settings, with their rich histories and comprehensive curriculums, struggle to keep pace with the swift changes defining global industries. This gap between time-honored educational practices and the immediate demands of the professional world is widening, leaving many questioning the current path of career development.

On the other side, there's the dynamic, ever-evolving world of conferences and workshops. These events are alive with the latest trends and insights, yet they often fall short of providing the depth and sustained learning that true professional growth requires. Attendees leave with fresh ideas but without the structured support or recognition needed to transform these ideas into career milestones.

This presents a clear and present challenge: How do we forge a new kind of professional development that marries the depth of traditional education with the immediacy and relevance of industry-specific training? The answer lies in the creation of dynamic professional development programs — initiatives that not only fill the current void but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow's workforce.

Read the Full Article Here

New Podcast Episode - Resilience to Resistance: Lessons from Ukraine

In this episode of Crisis Lab Podcast, host Kyle King sits down with Mr. Vitālijs Raksti?? to explore the complex concept of resilience, with a special emphasis on security and defense, and a particular focus on the Russo-Ukrainian War. The conversation aims to deepen the understanding of resilience and its role in anticipating, preventing, dealing with, and recovering from security threats and challenges.

Mr. Vitālijs Raksti??, a seasoned security expert with an 18-year career in the Latvian government and NATO, is now an academic, author, and educator. He focuses on security, resilience, and media literacy, having authored books like "Diaries of the Information War" and "Resistance Handbook." Additionally, he has developed educational initiatives such as the "Debunk NATO" media literacy game.

Tune in as Kyle and Vitālijs discuss resilience in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict, touching on different aspects of resilience, including cyber and societal resilience.

Listen to the full episode HERE.

Local Communities - Global Risk

If you are working in Emergency Management, Crisis Management, public safety, or related fields, how often do you consider global threats? I'm sure quite a few do now - in some form or fashion - post-pandemic and global supply chain disruption. The question remains as to whether global risk is now added into your planning and community resilience efforts on an ongoing basis, or if this was a reactionary, one-off consideration and planning. In a world of often hyperlocal perspectives and growing national interests, let's not forget we are still vulnerable.

The stark reality is that local communities often bear the brunt of global threats that manifest in very personal and direct ways. For instance, climate change is not just an abstract environmental issue; it's a pressing reality for families facing the loss of their homes due to rising sea levels or for local farmers whose crops fail because of unpredictable weather patterns.

Similarly, pandemics highlight our interconnected vulnerabilities, transforming global health crises into local emergencies that disrupt lives, economies, and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic, a recent example, underscored how swiftly a health threat can become a local reality, affecting individuals' jobs, mental health, and social connections.

Financial crises, too, translate global economic downturns into local challenges. Beyond the headlines of stock market crashes and bailouts lie stories of community members facing job loss, dwindling savings, and the stress of financial insecurity. The impact of such crises highlights the interconnectedness of global markets and local livelihoods.

Geopolitical conflicts also resonate on a local level, turning abstract international tensions into real-world consequences for communities caught in the crossfire. The ripple effects of these conflicts can lead to displacement, loss, and a profound sense of insecurity among local populations.

Yet, it's crucial to recognize that local communities are not mere victims of global forces; they are also potent agents of change and resilience. By leveraging collective knowledge, strengths, and solidarity, communities can innovate solutions tailored to their unique challenges and circumstances. This local action, supported by international frameworks and cooperation, can transform vulnerability into resilience.

As professionals in emergency and crisis management, it is essential to integrate global risk considerations into local planning and community resilience efforts. Recognizing the interconnectedness of global and local dynamics enriches our approach to safeguarding our communities. Let's commit to fostering resilience, not just as a reaction to past events, but as a proactive and continuous strategy in an ever-changing global landscape.