This document provides five aphorisms and an epilogue about neighborhood recovery. The aphorisms emphasize that communities must prepare for future challenges, work together at the neighborhood level to rebuild, and celebrate small successes to enable greater ones. The epilogue notes that full recovery involves reconstructing the various social networks within a community, not just rebuilding individual buildings.

1. Neighborhood Recovery
Five Aphorisms ...
and an Epilogue
M. J. Plodinec
New Orleans, LA
August 26, 2010
www.ResilientUS.or
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2. You’re not recovering, you’re preparing for
what’s next

3. The next one won’t be like the last one
• Recession of 2001-2
• Katrina – Rita
• Great Recession
• BP oil spill
What’s next?

4. It takes a neighborhood to rebuild a neighborhood

5. There are rhythms in recovery;
the neighborhood has to write its own music

6. Celebration of small successes is
essential for greater ones!

7. Epilogue
Recovery occurs network by network, district by district, not just
building by building;
it is about reconstructing myriad social relationships embedded in
schools, workplaces, childcare arrangements, shops, places of
worship, and places of play and recreation.
— Vale and Campanella
The Resilient City (2005)