Innovators in Rural Community Economic Development

2014

Yellow Wood brings a special combination of content and process expertise to our work.

We invite you to explore our work.  Recent projects and presentations are listed below.  You can explore additional work using the various tags in the right hand column.

ActionAid, Developing a Handbook for a Gender Sensitive Framework for Access to Market and Value Chains

Shanna Ratner worked with Barbara Wyckoff of Dynamica Consulting to develop a handbook for ActionAid.  This work built off of the framework developed in the Kathmandu workshop on Gender Sensitive Access to Market and Value Chains. Topics addressed…

CODESPA, Design of a Profit Sharing and Co-ownership Model; Its Strategies, Procedures and Implementation for Small Holder Farmers for Opportunity International

Opportunity International was interested in developing an agricultural model for sharing economic benefits and applying this model to a plant operated by Opportunity International in Nicaragua.  The CODESPA Foundation was selected to complete this…

Land Trust Alliance, Assistance with Metrics for Community Conservation

The Land Trust Alliance (Alliance) is a national conservation organization that works to save the places people love. Most recently, the Alliance has begun to focus on Community Conservation, listening to and engaging people from all walks of life…

Rural Health Network Rural Broome Counts

The Rural Health Network of South Central New York is working on a collaborative assessment project, Rural Broome Counts, that will provide organizational leaders, decision makers, policy makers, service providers and funders with a comprehensive report…

Rutland Area Farm and Food Link Measures

The Rutland Area Farm and Food Link received a 2014 partnership grant from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (NESARE).  Rutland Area Farm and Food Link’s (RAFFL) programs link small-scale, diversified, and local farms with new…

Forestry Industry Systems Analysis for the State of Vermont

Yellow Wood, in consultation with the Working Lands Enterprise Board Forestry subcommittee of the State of Vermont, is working to provide a systems analysis of the forest and wood products industry.  This work will engage a variety of stakeholders…

Renewable Energy Vermont Strategic Planning

Renewable Energy Vermont is a Vermont-based non-profit focused on reducing the state’s dependence on fossil fuels and expanding the use of renewable energy across the state and the region. Yellow Wood is working with Renewable Energy Vermont on a three-part…

Verde River Valley Nature Organization, Strategic Planning, Measurement, and Coaching

Yellow Wood is working with the Verde River Valley Nature Organization (VRVNO) as they transition from a volunteer-led nonprofit organization to an executive director-led nonprofit. We will be facilitating an on-site strategic planning workshop with…

Walton Family Foundation, Private Coaching, Meeting Facilitation and Value Chain Coordination for Nature-Based Tourism Grantees in the Lower Mississippi River Region

Yellow Wood Associates is working with place-based grantees of the Walton Family Foundation in the Lower Mississippi River Region.  This work is focused around nature-based tourism.  Coaching work includes calls with grantees and group calls to support…

WealthWorks Training, October 2014 - August 2015

Participants in the third WealthWorks training, which began in October 2014 and runs through August 2015, come from organizations and states across the country, including Agricultural Utilization Research Institute…

Wealth Creation in Rural Communities - Building Sustainable Livelihoods (WealthWorks)

Yellow Wood Associates is the managing grantee and thought leader for Wealth Creation in Rural Communities - Building Sustainable Livelihoods (now WealthWorks), an initiative of the Ford Foundation that seeks to improve rural livelihoods with a systems…

Connecticut Land Conservation Council Retreat Facilitation

The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) works to increase the pace, quality and scale of land conservation in Connecticut while assuring the perpetual, high quality stewardship of conserved lands in the state. The council is in a growth stage,…

Land Trust Alliance Rally 2014, Board Summit: “Increasing Your Land Trust’s Impact through Collaboration”

Melissa Levy presented the Board Member Summit, “Increasing Your Land Trust’s Impact through Collaboration” with Judy Anderson, Principal of Community Consultants. The session shared examples of how land trusts have collaborated and conserved more…

Wallace Center, Nourishing Networks: Capacity Building for Food Hubs and Regional Food Systems Project

In connection with our work on the Wallace Center Nourishing Networks – Improving the Food Environment Project, Yellow Wood provided consulting services to Wallace under the Nourishing Networks: Capacity Building for Food Hubs and Regional Food Systems…

Rural Health Network AmeriCorps Program Evaluation and Technical Assistance

The Rural Health Network of South Central New York continued their work with Yellow Wood Associates, selecting Yellow Wood to provide their Rural Health Service Corps AmeriCorps program evaluation for the 2013-2014 program year. In addition, the Rural…

Strategic Thinking with the Local Economies Project of the New World Foundation

The Local Economies Project of the New World Foundation is focused on strengthening the food system of the Hudson Valley Region through four primary areas of focus: 1) The Hudson Valley Farm Hub; 2) A Food Hub Portfolio; 3) Education; and 4) A financing…

Strategic Thinking, Workshop Facilitation and Follow-up for the Local Economies Project of the New World Foundation

Continuing their work with the Local Economies Project (LEP) of the New World Foundation, Yellow Wood designed and facilitated a full-day, on-site workshop to review the findings from the first workshop, align current and planned activities in relation…

Economic Strategy Development Workshop for the Town of Hinesburg

Yellow Wood provided the Town of Hinesburg with assistance in developing an economic development strategy. This assistance included planning and facilitating a community engagement workshop to identify the strategic leverage points for goals identified…

2014 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference Workshop: Strategic Planning, Measurement and Evaluation Using “You Get What You Measure®”

Melissa Levy presented a workshop titled Strategic Planning, Measurement and Evaluation Using “You Get What You Measure®” at the 2014 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference. You Get What You Measure® is a facilitated, values-based strategic planning…

Rural Research Report on WealthWorks for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs

Melissa Levy co-authored a report, along with Barbara Wyckoff of Dynamica Consulting, for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs.  The report, titled “Connecting Community Assets with Market Demand for Lasting Livelihoods: Meeting New Challenges…

Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center Learning Journey

Yellow Wood worked with the Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center to plan and facilitate a learning journey around arts tourism. Representatives from the Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center traveled to Western North Carolina for an itinerary…

Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, 25th Annual Rural Community and Economic Development Conference Sessions

Melissa Levy presented two “You Get What You Measure®” workshop sessions at the 25th Annual Rural Community and Economic Development Conference, as part of a program of workshops on community and economic development techniques. The conference was…

What Works III and National Value-Added Agriculture Joint Conference in Baltimore, “Developing Measures that Matter”

The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development's What Works Conference Series hosted a joint regional conference with the National Value Added Agriculture Conference on "Enhancing Food Security and Rural Viability through Innovative Food System…

Land Trust Alliance Northeast Farmland Preservation Grantee Meeting Facilitation

Yellow Wood worked with the Land Trust Alliance Northeast Region and the 1772 Foundation to plan and facilitate a meeting of farmland preservation grantees.  The Land Trust Alliance Northeast Region has a collaborative relationship with the 1772 Foundation…

21st Annual Conference on the Adirondacks, 2014: Moving Forward- Revitalizing Communities and Forging Opportunities

Shanna Ratner presented on “Creating and Retaining Wealth: Connecting Assets with Market Demand for Lasting Livelihoods” at the 21st Annual Conference on the Adirondacks.  Her presentation was titled…

Profit Squared and Heifer International, Development of Heifer Nepal Case Study

Profit Squared sought Yellow Wood’s assistance in developing a case study of a goat meat value chain project supported by Heifer International in Nepal, for use in training Heifer International staff on a wealth creation approach to development. Yellow…

2014 NCRC Annual Conference - A Just Economy: Ideas, Action, Impact

Shanna Ratner was a panelist on the panel "Innovative Strategies that Support Rural Communities." This panel featured organizations that build local value chains in sectors such as food and agriculture, green affordable housing, energy efficiency,…

Measurement Workshop, Raleigh, NC, March 2014

Shanna Ratner and Jackie LeBlanc co-presented a half-day public workshop on the You Get What You Measure® process in Raleigh, NC.  Attendees came from the Research Triangle Foundaton, Hudson Varick Resources, and the North Carolina Fourth Sector Resource…

Measurement Workshop, Ithaca, NY, May 2014

Shanna Ratner presented a half-day public workshop on the You Get What You Measure® process in Ithaca, NY.  The workshop was part of the Human Services Coalition workshop series. Attendees came from Alternatives Federal…

Measurement Workshop, Baltimore, MD, May 2014

Melissa Levy and Samantha Dunn co-presented a half-day public workshop on the You Get What You Measure® process in Baltimore, MD.  Attendees came from the Farmers Market Coalition and the University of Maryland.

Becoming a Measurement Guide Training, April 2014

Participants in the April 2014 Becoming a Measurement Guide Training joined us from the Virgin Islands Developmental Disabilities Council and the Rutland Area Farm and Food Link.  Yellow Wood has been offering professionals with facilitation skills…

NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2014 Conference: "Finding Common Measures," "Measures that Matter"

Shanna Ratner and Jackie LeBlanc presented two sessions at the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2014 Conference in Raleigh, NC: “Finding Common Measures for the Nation’s Food Hubs” and “Measures that Matter.” In “Finding Common Measures,” Yellow…

WealthWorks Training, April 2014 - February 2015

Participants in the second WealthWorks training, which began in April 2014 and runs through February 2015, come from organizations and states across the country, including Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group…

WealthWorks Training, December 2013 - September 2014

The WealthWorks Training provides coaches and coordinators from nonprofit, for profit, and government agencies with an introduction to the Wealth Works approach and framework and a guided six to nine month Wealth Works…

The Nature Conservancy, Adirondack Park Invasive Species Economic Assessment

Yellow Wood Associates designed and implemented a study for the Nature Conservancy on the economic impacts of invasive species on a variety of economic sectors in the Adirondack Park. This study provided a preliminary assessment of the present day…

National Advisory Board, Food Hub Management Program

Shanna Ratner was invited to serve on the National Advisory Board of the Food Hub Management Program, an innovative higher education program focused on food hub management.  Shanna is collaborating with thought leaders, practitioners, funders, and…

Ecological Services Research Coordination for the Audubon Society

Yellow Wood worked with the National Audubon Society to coordinate research work related to the demand for and economic impact of ecological services. Yellow Wood’s role included conducting coaching calls related to demand studies, participating on…

Morse Marketing Connections, Evaluation for a Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program Educational Enhancement Team

Morse Marketing, a consulting firm working in multi-sector partnerships across a variety of food-related initiatives, turned to Yellow Wood to provide guidance in evaluating the effectiveness of a Beginning Farmer & Rancher Development Program Educational…

Natural Capital Investment Fund, NCIF Rural Jobs Accelerator Measurement

Yellow Wood Associates is working with the Natural Capital Investment Fund and partners to develop outcome measures for the Rural Jobs Accelerator that capture effects on the seven forms of wealth as well as on jobs and income. We will work with NCIF…

Wallace Center, Nourishing Networks – Improving the Food Environment Project

Yellow Wood Associates worked for the Wallace Center at Winrock International on the Nourishing Networks – Improving the Food Environment project, funded by The Kresge Foundation. Yellow Wood served on the Food Hub Collaboration Core Team; provided…

Walton Family Foundation, Verde River Valley Nature Organization Value Chain Facilitation

Yellow Wood Associates worked with the Verde River Valley Nature Organization (VRVNO), a Walton Family Foundation grantee.  Yellow Wood provided VRVNO with coaching and analysis to review their birding value chain, identify metrics/measurement that…

ActionAid Workshop on Gender Sensitive Access to Market and Value Chain, Thamel, Kathmandu

Shanna Ratner and Barbara Wyckoff were invited by ActionAid to co-facilitate a five day workshop in Nepal. The participants included partners and ActionAid staff from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Senegal together with two women community…

Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Technical Assistance and Coaching for the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission / Black Belt Treasures, Phase 2

In the second phase of their work with the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission / Black Belt Treasures, Yellow Wood is working with Black Belt Treasures to strengthen their value chain through expanded connections to the greater arts, culture and…

Strategy Development, Maine Food Strategy Steering Committee

The Maine Food Strategy Steering Committee is a diverse group of stakeholders from around the state. Initiated in December of 2013, the Steering Committee is responsible for guiding the direction of the Maine…