"Paul Lachapelle is Professor in the Department of Political Science at Montana State University-Bozeman USA. His teaching and research spans many disciplines and practices; from community climate change resiliency to social impact investing to diversity, inclusion and social justice topics. His publications include the edited book in this current series, ""Addressing Climate Change at the Community Level"" (Routledge 2019) as well as journal articles on energy impacts in communities, democratic practice and local governance, and community visioning. He earned a Ph.D. (Forestry) at the University of Montana's College of Forestry and Conservation with a focus on natural resource policy and governance and serves as Editor of the Community Development Society Current Issues Book Series and member of the Board of Directors (and past-President) of the International Association for Community Development. Don Albrecht began his role as the Director of the Western Rural Development Center in July 2008. He received a B.S. in Forestry, an M.S. in Sociology from Utah State University and a Ph.D. in Rural Sociology from Iowa State University. He then served as a member of the faculty at Texas A&M University for 27 years where he worked in the Departments of Rural Sociology and Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Sciences. He has researched and written extensively on the issues confronting the communities and residents of rural America. Among the issues explored are natural resource concerns, economic restructuring, demographic trends, poverty, inequality and education."
In this time of dire consequences attributed to the effects of climate change, Addressing Climate Change at the Community Level and its contributors offer us a shred of hope in this compendium of essays about communities and their actions to becoming more resilient and adaptive. The reader is also offered other ways of thinking about `community'- we are more than just the places we come from and our survival on this planet depends on that notion. -Mark Apel, Area Agent for Community Resource Development, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension By focusing on community and the lived experience of climate change, this book advances a compelling portfolio of ways people are working together against what are too often portrayed as insurmountable challenges. Kudos to a stellar group of authors for a refreshing view into what is possible. -Courtney Flint, Professor of Natural Resource Sociology, Utah State University In a refreshing approach, rather than staking out strident political positions, this book focuses on the real climate change issues communities face. Locally-relevant, scientifically-based, and action-oriented, the authors share outstanding approaches and innovative ideas for understanding, strategizing, and acting on climate change challenges. Most importantly, we learn how to authentically engage communities of interest and place in developing practices that promote resiliency and sustainability. It's a must read for community development practitioners. -Greg Wise, Emeritus Professor of Community Development, University of Wisconsin Extension