The Hilltown Resilience Network (HRN) grew out of a "Cultivating Resilience" study group that began meeting in 2025. Interested residents gathered to learn about nationwide resilience efforts, notably the Seattle model. 

The HRN was formally adopted by group consensus in March 2026. Our mission is to strengthen our communities’ capacity to prepare for, withstand, and recover from disasters, economic shocks, and chronic stressors — keeping neighbors connected and no one left behind. While rooted in Buckland and Shelburne, we warmly welcome all of West County.

Several volunteer members of Shelburne’s Emergency Operations Team — including Emergency Management Director Tom Williams — serve on our steering committee, bringing vital expertise and strong local partnerships.

We launched our First Saturday Community Coffee in April of 2026 in collaboration with Mocha Maya's Coffee House. The gathering has grown every month as residents enjoy the casual connection time and beautiful setting by the river. 

Neighborhood Hubs are in the early planning stages, developing relationships with Franklin County public service providers in order to enhance and strengthen community response to local challenges. We work to develop local connection points where residents shape solutions focused on safety, stability, and shared opportunity.  We seek neighbors ready to lead.

HRN is working closely with local affinity groups assisting them in building their own networks on Hylo, further extending our networks and providing easy access to resources outside of the for profit social networks.

*Hylo is an open-source, non-profit community platform built to help purpose-driven groups organize, collaborate, and take collective action.