The Resilience and Acceptance in the Face of Collapse course began in 2020 as a small circle of neighbors in Rochester, New York came together to face a shared sense that the world was changing in profound ways. What started as conversations about personal and community resilience soon grew into a deeper exploration of acceptance, connection, and our relationship with the Earth and one another. From these gatherings, a course was born, developed initially by Steve Aman, Doug Della Pietra, and Mary Gleason.
When the first course launched in late 2022, participants responded with enthusiasm and gratitude. Many stepped forward to become facilitators themselves, allowing the course to spread organically across continents and cultures. Along the way, volunteers created community circles, developed new materials, and built the online infrastructure that allowed the program to reach a global audience.
Today, the course is guided not by a single organization, but by a living community of graduates who continue to refine the curriculum, support new leaders, and nurture ongoing conversations. What began as a handful of people has become an international network of learners, facilitators, and friends.
Offered freely as a gift of service, the course continues to evolve through shared care, curiosity, and commitment. Its story is still being written — shaped by all who gather with the courage to face uncertainty together and the hope of building resilience, acceptance, and community in a changing world.