The ability to recover from setbacks, adapt to challenges, and keep functioning despite adversity. It applies to individuals, communities, and systems facing social, environmental, or technological difficulties.

Resilience has often led Black, Indigenous, disability justice, and other exploited communities to develop creative solutions to the challenges they face. These communities have built mutual aid networks, advanced accessible design, and found ways to navigate systems that frequently exclude or overlook them. While these innovations are powerful, they often arise from necessity, as existing systems frequently fail to provide adequate support. However, constantly needing to adapt and overcome places an unfair burden on individuals and communities. Instead of treating resilience as the goal, the focus can shift toward building systems that allow everyone the opportunity to thrive. By creating spaces and technologies that center cultural specificity, disability justice, and intersectional equity, it becomes possible to move beyond survival and toward environments that fully support these communities. This shift can lead to futures where thriving—not just resilience—is more achievable for all.