I have extensive experience advocating for rural people and places, directing complex social impact projects, and facilitating place-based strategies that result in strong, healthy, and powerful communities. My open and honest communication style enables me to build trusting relationships and alliances across nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, businesses, and grassroots organizations. Most importantly, my core values guide my work and are rooted in the deep belief in local people to lead and drive fundamental change within their own communities.
I have worked for the past eight years in diverse roles including: Program Manager at Rural Support Partners and Researcher for the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex. Most recently, I received the 2018 CoThinkk Community Ally Award which honors community leaders who diligently strive to advance communities of color in Asheville and Western North Carolina.
I have consulted for community development projects funded by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust’s Healthy Places NC Initiative, the Yancey County Foodshed Project, and the Philanthropic Engagement Project at the Appalachia Funders Network. Also a Consultant for the Yancey County Foodshed Project. A project to develop strategies to increase farm acreage, grow farmer income, and strengthen the local food economy in Yancey County. This project was in partnership with Emergent Opportunities, Inc.
Project Report: Action Plan to Increase Local Food Production and Farmer Income in Yancey County, North Carolina (Collaboration with Emergent Opportunities, completed January 2017)
I have a Master of Arts in Human Rights and Cultural Diversity from the University of Essex in England and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. My love for travel, people, and culture has led me to explore, value, and learn from over 30 countries across Europe, Asia, Southeast Asia, Central American, and South America. These experiences heightened my awareness of global challenges and brought to life all the beautiful solutions that people are practicing everyday to create a more just and inclusive world.