How can we approach cities as interlinked social-ecological systems? What are ways to be responsive to change by working with both people and place?  I will share three definitions of resilience, and discuss how moving toward more of a social-ecological resilience approach can enhance our adaptive capacity amidst change.  This will form the basis for how I will introduce the Climate-adaptive Design studio, which works directly with Hudson River waterfront municipalities in New York State to develop adaptive design strategies as a means for building climate awareness and inspiring communities to act now in the face of a changing climate.