Bioregional Collaboratories
Communities learning, adapting, and regenerating together.
Disasters and disruptions are increasing in frequency, scale, and complexity. Yet communities facing similar challenges are often isolated from one another—repeating lessons, rebuilding alone, and lacking spaces for long-term shared learning.
Bioregional Collaboratories create place-based networks where communities can strengthen relationships, exchange learning, and cultivate regenerative capacity together over time.
Renewal Cannot Happen in Isolation
When communities face wildfire, climate disruption, economic instability, displacement, or social fragmentation, the challenges extend far beyond immediate response and long-term recovery.
Long-term resilience depends on:
- trusted relationships
- shared learning
- regional collaboration
- local leadership
- the ability to adapt together over time
Yet many communities remain disconnected from others navigating similar realities. Bioregional Collaboratories help create the conditions for communities to learn with one another rather than struggle alone.
A Living Network for Shared Learning and Regeneration
A Bioregional Collaboratory is a place-based learning and relationship network that brings together communities, practitioners, organizations, and local leaders navigating shared challenges within a region.
Collaboratories cultivate:
- ongoing relationship
- peer learning
- cross-community exchange
- collaborative experimentation
- regenerative capacity
Each collaboratory evolves in response to the unique realities of the communities and ecosystems it serves.
The goal is to strengthen the social and relational infrastructure communities need to respond creatively and collaboratively in times of disruption and transition.
What Happens in a Collaboratory?
Practices of Shared Learning
Bioregional Collaboratories include:
Learning Exchanges
Communities visit one another to share lived experience, strategies, challenges, and emerging practices.
Facilitated Conversations
Spaces for dialogue, reflection, sense-making, and collaborative problem-solving across sectors and communities.
Storytelling & Knowledge Sharing
Strengthening long-term trust and connection across organizations, regions, and local leaders.
Relationship Infrastructure
Shared practices support others in applying what is learned
Regenerative Practice
Exploring approaches that move beyond extraction and recovery toward long-term ecological and social regeneration.
Collaboratories in Practice
Northern California Fire-Affected Communities Collaboratory
NewStories has been supporting the development of a collaboratory connecting communities across Northern California that have experienced repeated wildfire disruption.
This work includes:
- learning exchanges between communities
- relationship-building across regions
- shared reflection and storytelling
- support for local leaders and practitioners
- cross-community capacity building
The collaboratory continues to evolve through partnerships, regional gatherings, and ongoing learning.
Emerging Regional Relationships
Conversations and relationships are also emerging with communities and practitioners across:
- Cascadia
- Southern California
- other fire-affected and climate-impacted regions
As these relationships deepen, additional collaboratories may emerge organically in response to local needs and shared regional realities.
NewStories' Role
NewStories serves as facilitators, conveners, storytellers, and learning partners—helping cultivate the conditions for communities to strengthen their own capacity, connection, and collaborative resilience.
Our work often includes:
- convening and facilitation
- systems and pattern sensing
- storytelling and documentation
- strategic accompaniment
- network weaving
- learning design
- cross-sector dialogue
We work relationally, iteratively, and in partnership with local leadership.
Building Capacity for a Time of Increasing Disruption
The future will require communities to navigate increasing uncertainty together.
Bioregional Collaboratories help cultivate:
- stronger social fabric
- regional learning networks
- adaptive capacity
- cross-community solidarity
- regenerative imagination
- long-term resilience
This work is not only about responding to disaster.
It is about strengthening the relational and collaborative foundations communities need to navigate profound transition together.
Connect
We welcome connection with:
- community leaders
- fire-affected regions
- resilience practitioners
- local governments
- foundations and funding partners
- facilitators and network weavers
- organizations working at the intersection of community and ecological regeneration
If you are exploring regional collaboration, community resilience, or regenerative approaches to disaster recovery, we would be glad to begin a conversation.
Support & Resources
When fires hit Lahaina, Hawai‘i, NewStories and our partners at Regenerating Paradise shared reflections and practical guidance drawn from our experiences accompanying communities through wildfire recovery. While every community’s path forward is shaped by its own culture, geography, and relationships, Ashes to Resilience: A Guide to Wildfire Recovery may offer meaningful starting points for communities navigating disruption and regeneration.
