A community place for real conversation in uncertain times.
The Salon brings people together to examine how small cities can stay strong, adaptable, and connected.

Our focus is practical resiliency, the everyday capacities that help communities weather disruption and support one another.

For a concise explanation of the Salon’s ideas and current projects, you can download the overview flyer.

All of our events can be found on Queen City Resiliency Salon Eventbrite Page for more information and RSVPs!

Next Gatherings

What-the-Node Wednesdays: Let’s Mesh Around!

Wednesday ̶J̶u̶n̶e̶ ̶3̶r̶d̶ ̶and June17th; July 1st and 15th; August 5th and 19th, 2026 · Staunton Innovation Hub · 6:00–8:00 PM

After being injured at the Farmer’s Market this weekend, we’re canceling Wednesday June 3rds gathering while I recover. Thank you to everyone who helped and checked in.

Where are you at: curious, confused, or connected?

Curious about mesh networks? Got a Meshtastic device you’re still figuring out? Or just want to see what it’s all about?

Join us for What-the-Node Wednesdays: Let’s Mesh Around! a beginner-friendly, low-pressure space to tinker, learn, and connect. No experience needed, seriously. Whether you’re totally new or already experimenting, you’re welcome here.

Bring your device, your questions, or just your curiosity. We’ll troubleshoot together, share what we’re learning, and celebrate the little wins (yes, blinking lights count).

What to expect:

• Hands-on help getting started with Meshtastic
• Friendly folks learning and experimenting together
• Plenty of “wait… that worked?!” moments

Come hang out, try things out, and mesh around with us.

Queen City Resiliency Salon at the Farmer's Market!

Saturday May 30th; July 4th; August 1st, 2026 · Staunton Farmer's Market · 8:00 AM–12:00 PM

We’ll be hosting a table at the local farmers market and would love for you to stop by, say hello, and connect with others in the community.

Come meet members of our group, learn more about the mesh networks and time banking programs we’re currently working on, and chat about ways to get involved. Whether you’re curious, passionate about local food and community, or just browsing the market, we’d be happy to see you!

We’ll have information about upcoming events and opportunities, plus plenty of time to talk and answer questions.
🗓 When: May 30; 8 am - 12 noon
📍 Where: 2020 West Beverley St.

Feel free to drop by anytime while the market is open — no need to stay the whole time. If you're already planning to visit the market, swing by our table and say hi!
Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting new ones.

Mesh Networking Workshop: Beyond the Basics

Tuesday July 28th, 2026 · Staunton Innovation Hub · 6:00–8:00 PM

What happens when cell service goes down, the internet is unreliable, or we simply want a more resilient way to communicate locally?

📡 Local Mesh Radio for Staunton: The Next Level to Mesh Networks

What happens when cell service goes down, the internet is unreliable, or we simply want a more resilient way to communicate locally?

Andy (K1RA) from NoVa-Mesh and Fauquier Amateur Radio Assoc will lead a remote lecture. Join us for a more technical discussion of Mesh Networks, a low-power, long-range radio communication system that allows people to send messages directly to one another: no cell towers, no internet, no central authority required.

You do not need a technical background to attend, but this session will take it to the next level from what we learned during our first Mesh Workshop.

Repair Café Part 2!

Saturday August 1st, 2026 · Staunton Public Library · 1:00–4:00 PM

Fix things. Learn skills. Build community. Got something broken? Curious about tech? Want to meet neighbors who know how to fix things?

Fix things. Learn skills. Build community.

Got something broken? Curious about tech? Want to meet neighbors who know how to fix things?

Join us for the second Staunton Repair Café & Community Tech Lab: a hands-on, community-powered event where people come together to repair everyday items, share knowledge, and connect.

🛠 What to Expect

Bring your broken items, your questions, or just your curiosity. We’ll have volunteer-led stations including:

• Repair Table (small appliances, tools, lamps, household items)
• Electronics & Laptop Help
• Mesh Networking & Radio
• Linux & Privacy Tools
• Sewing & Mending

No experience required, just a willingness to learn or help.

🤝 A Community Experiment

This is our second event, so expect a little chaos, a little confusion, and a lot of learning. That’s part of the process.

The goal is simple:

• Connect people who have skills with people who need help
• Create a space where neighbors can meet and collaborate
• Start building relationships that continue beyond the event

Ideally, you’ll leave not just with something fixed (or closer to it), but with new connections — people you might trade skills with, collaborate with, or simply get to know.

⏳ Earn Time Credits

Participants can earn hOUR economy time bank credits by:

• Helping repair items
• Teaching skills

These credits can be exchanged for help from others in the community.

🌱 Why This Matters

Too many things get thrown away.
Too many skills go unused.

When neighbors repair things together, we build something bigger than the fix — we build community.

💡 Come As You Are

You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need to bring anything (though you’re encouraged to!). Just show up.

Let’s figure it out together — and improve as we go.

Get involved: houreconomy.org
Fix things. Learn things. Teach things.

https://houreconomy.org/

Monthly QCRS Meetings - TBD

Wednesday June 24th; August 26th, 2026 · Staunton Public Library · 6:00–8:00 PM

We will continue to host monthly meetings, I haven't booked a speaker but the room is booked for these days. In lieu of a July meeting we will have our second Mesh workshop on July 28th, see above for details.

Current Focus

The Resiliency Salon is an ongoing, participatory process. Notes from each meeting including photos of working boards, transcribed ideas, and action items are captured and updated as capacity allows.
→ See what’s underway

Have thoughts to share?
Questions, ideas, or follow-ups related to the Resiliency Salon can be emailed to: s i g n a l @ k a m r e s e a r c h . g l o b a l

Messages may inform future discussion or action items.

How to Join / What to Expect

Attendance is open. No membership, no fees.
Each gathering typically includes:

• Thoughtful, facilitated conversation
• A brief educational segment
• Collaborative work toward practical initiatives, such as repair networks, time banking, or local economic literacy

Come as you are. Curiosity and goodwill are the only requirements.

Why Resiliency?

Modern life depends on systems that are powerful but fragile.
When a single authority or server controls a basic need, the whole community feels the impact when that system falters.

Recent examples make this plain:

• When centralized agencies handle food assistance, a shutdown can interrupt support for thousands of families.
• When our internet depends on large corporate servers, an AWS outage can disrupt businesses, schools, and emergency communication.
• Network shutdowns, whether accidental or intentional, can isolate entire regions at once

These moments reveal a simple truth: centralization concentrates both capability and vulnerability.

A Practical Alternative

Resiliency is not isolation; it is independence supported by community.

An individual can’t thrive alone and doesn’t need to. What matters is cultivating a community that:

• Trades locally
• Repairs rather than replaces
• Shares skills and resources
• Maintains multiple channels for communication
• Can function even when larger systems stumble

A community with its own capacity is a community that endures.

Resiliency is the practice of building that capacity together: steadily, cooperatively, and with confidence in our shared resilience.

Stay Connected

Email: s i g n a l @ k a m r e s e a r c h . g l o b a l