The question isn't if crises will strike, but when—and most critically, what is our collective response in the face of the challenges posed by the situation. In this era of unprecedented challenges, cities stand on the front lines of climate change, social upheaval, and economic instability. Yet too many remain unprepared for shocks, even in the wake of Covid-19.

Our communities remain vulnerable thanks to their dependence on fragile global supply chains, ongoing wealth extraction, and a deeply eroded social fabric. In the face of these and other mounting threats, these vulnerabilities are clearly a ticking time bomb.

MycoFi is about redesigning our economies based on the design principles we observe in nature. This project is about continuing to build on this as a practical discipline.

We seek to explore and assimilate some sense of what options we have in terms of coordinating in the face of these kinds of challenges on the local (read: municipal and community) levels. Ultimately we seek to equip municipalities with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to not just weather storms, but to thrive in the face of adversity. Imagine a future where cities don't just bounce back from crises—they bounce forward. Where local resource systems are so robust they improve quality of life today while building ironclad defenses for tomorrow. Where cutting-edge technology and grassroots innovation join forces to create urban environments that are truly antifragile.

We believe there is an enormous opportunity to bring Web3 technology to bear in service of our ability to confront these challenges and create a more antifragile future through place based collaboration. This project is oriented towards researching and organizing relevant strategies and mechanisms so that it becomes easier to educate local decision makers about what’s possible with modern technology and an expanded community based financial toolkit.

Project Overview

Research Objectives

Our mission is to empower cities to thrive in the face of adversity. We aim to:

1. Survey historical and modern examples of strategies and mechanisms designed to build up community economic resilience and antifragility

2. Interview and run workshops with local policy makers and economic development professionals to gain a better sense of their knowledge and needs.

3. Create a resource for educating key stakeholder groups about the tools available and what kinds of processes are required to move away from economic fragility and extraction and towards a recircularization of supply chains and antifragility.

Expected Outcomes

A report cataloging key mechanisms and strategies for place based policy makers and community organizers

Process

Our approach is designed to be comprehensive, collaborative, and action-oriented:

• Landscape Mapping: Conduct a deep dive into the urban resilience ecosystem.

  • Understand who is working on the ground in this area
  • Evaluate existing mechanisms, frameworks, and strategies
  • Identify critical gaps and untapped opportunities

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build a diverse network of urban resilience champions.

  • Municipal decision-makers and Chief Resilience Officers (primary focus)
  • Nonprofit and social service providers
  • Grassroots community organizers
  • Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) at the cutting edge of urban resilience

• Field Research & Workshops: Uncover real-world insights through primary research.

  • Conduct in-depth interviews with municipalities and economic developers
  • Organize dynamic workshops with local leaders
  • Facilitate cross-pollination of ideas among diverse stakeholder groups

• Gap Analysis & Solution Design: Pinpoint critical needs and craft targeted solutions.

  • Identify key areas where municipalities need additional support
  • Assess challenges in implementing sustainable development during crises
  • Develop innovative approaches to bridge identified gaps
  • Create resources to communicate best practices and action plans

Who We Are

Research Team

• Scott Morris of FoxFire
• Andrea Farias of Diome
• Magenta Ceiba of Bloom Network
• Samantha Power of BioFi.earth
• Tyler Wakefield of BioFi.earth
• Cameron Burgess of Armillaria.io
• rathermercurial.eth of SuperBenefit
• Monty of ReFiDAO & Celo Public Goods
• Luiz of ReFiDAO & Trusted Seed
• Darren Zal of Web of Trust
• More Reese of SuperBenefit

Aligned Projects

• OpenCivics
• ReFi DAO
• Bloom Network
• BioFi Project
• Web of Trust
• SuperBenefit
• NeedList

The urban resilience challenge before us is monumental, but so is the opportunity for transformation. This project isn't just about safeguarding our cities—it's about reimagining them as dynamic, adaptable ecosystems that thrive in the face of adversity. Together, we can turn our urban centers into beacons of resilience, lighting the way toward a more secure and prosperous future for all.

Let's build resilient cities—not just for tomorrow, but for generations to come!