Creating
Stronger Communities
Our social innovation model helped one small town leverage $5Million, improve youth mental health by 13%, increase community volunteerism by 400% and create a sense of belonging.
Launching August 18th in IGNITE-IFY
What's the Problem?
Rural Communities Are Stuck in a Vicious Cycle
The traditional approach to rural development treats symptoms, not causes. The number one indicator of community wellbeing is youth wellbeing. When we don't address the underlying issue of how youth wellbeing & engagement, economic opportunity, and community wellbeing are all linked we band aid solutions by reacting to problems leading to high costs and poor outcomes.
The Capacity Gap
Small communities lack access to expert community developers, grant writers, fundraisers, public health experts & economic drivers. This leaves rural communities without the resources they truly need to transform community.
Mental Health Crisis
As mental health crisis is at an all time high especially for youth, communities continue to react to the problem instead of addressing the root causes. This is costly, and not effective.
Economic Stagnation
Rural communities watch millions of funds go to urban areas while they struggle to navigate complex grant applications, legislative appropriations, and watch large cities recruit business owners. Local communities lose their economic foundations.
Fragmented Approaches
Communities try to solve youth problems, economic problems and social problems separately - but they are all connected, which is why isolated approaches fail.
Not Enough Volunteers
Organizations are fighting for enough volunteers as they have, "the same 10 people" problem. The truth is that there are enough volunteers, there just isn't capacity in rural communities to pay someone to recruit, organize and retain them.
Polarizing Views
Let's face it- it's difficult for people to work together across opposing views to accomplish the things we all care about the most such as healthy children and families and financial stability. Our approach bridges the divide and brings people together by celebrating diversity.
Why Creating Community Consulting
Real World Example of Focused Impact
Frazee, MN.
Population 1,300 people
Outcomes (During COVID)
$5+Million Leveraged.
13% Youth Mental Health Improvement. 4% Decrease in Substance Use.
8 New Businesses.
2 x the Community Events and 4x the Community Volunteers.
4x Youth Leadership in Community.
Young people are now leading community change and returning to the community to re-invest in its future!
OUR IMPACT IN 3 YEARS
$10+ Million
In resources leveraged in less than 3 years
20+
Counties served
4.9/5.0
Client satisfaction rating
96% of Clients
Agree they have improved knowledge, skills and ability to transform community
9 Counties
Launched or are in the "Explore & Assess" phase of developing a Family Resource Center
3 Public Health
Agencies
Improved their health impact strategies
8 Communities
Launched youth leadership initiatives where youth led development of community solutions
Our Approach
Our prevention based and integrated approach creates lasting change by addressing the root causes across multiple systems simultaneously while engaging people most impacted to work with community leaders to develop solutions.
We provide direct consulting services and we've also harnessed the power of AI to create "IGNITE-IFY"- an online hub that is home to leading edge trainings, software accelerators that make the work easier, and is a hub for other likeminded people who want to engage in co-learning to create stronger communities.
Youth Wellbeing & Leadership
Engaging youth to co-create solutions that positively impact their wellbeing builds ownership, leadership skills, and stronger community wellness infrastructure
Economic Development Infrastructure
Strategic grant funding and resource development enhances public amenities, creates jobs, supports local businesses, and builds long term economic stability
Community Engagement Spaces
Family Resource Centers, Parks and Public Outdoor Amenities serve as hubs for connection, support, wellness, and create places of belonging for all people
Public Health Outcomes
Engaging people most impacted by health disparities to design strategies that work to improve the wellbeing of people
Communities of Change Makers
Empowering residents of all ages and backgrounds to co-create community results in communities of belonging
How We Can Work With Your Community
Pathways to implementing our social innovation model in your community
IGNITE-IFY: Our online community development hub with step by step video training, downloadable tools, communities of practice, and live events!
Select the plan that best fits your needs and seamlessly adapts to support your future growth for yourself, your organization or community.
STARTER
PLAN
$49/mo
Weekly Trainings on Creating Change in Community
Downloadable tools for action
Live Coaching: Expert group coaching 1/month
GROWTH
PLAN
$189/mo or $1,987 year
STARTER Plan+
Grant WritingTraining & Grant Accelerator Software
COMING SOON
IMPACT PLAN
$299/mo or $2,999/year
GROWTH Plan+
Community Changemaker Training
Non-profit Development Toolkit & Training
Capital Campaign Training and Toolkit
Monthly Community of Practice Calls for one year
COMING SOON
TRANSFORMATIONAL PLAN
One Year Commitment
$599/mo
or $5,999/year
IMPACT Plan+
Community Assessment & Planning Accelerator
Marketing Accelerator: AI driven software for hostingwebsite, social media & email campaigns, e-tools, video scripts, SEO & more!
Bi-weekly Community of Practice Calls
CUSTOM CONSULTING SERVICES
COMMUNITY WELLNESS & PUBLIC HEALTH DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
YOUTH, COMMUNITY & FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
Testimonials
Words of Gratitude
Real Impact, real change. Hear from those who have worked with Creating Community Consulting and
experienced our data-driven, inclusive, and results-focused approach to community development.
"Working with Megan was wonderful over the last 6 months or so to help lead our statewide hunger coalition through it's first RBA process. This was very new for our coalition, and Megan did a wonderful job of building trust, making the material approachable, and helped create a strong foundation for this coalition moving forward." - Nancy Carrivau, Great Plains Food Bank
Nancy Carrivau
Great Plains Food Bank
"CCC is honestly doing the best work of any small-town community development organization in the region, possibly beyond. Your approach is on point because you understand the work, creating sustainable solutions, and are doing it with the end impact in mind."
Ian Carlstrom
Regional Director, SBDC
"Karen is a coalition builder, a skilled facilitator, and most importantly, an empathetic listener who strives to understand diverse points of view. Her ability to bring organizations and coalitions together to make actionable change is unparalleled. " - Thomas Hill, Vice President of Community Impact at United Way of Cass Clay
Thomas Hill
Vice President of Community
Impact at United Way of Cass Clay
Who We Work With
Excited to start
working together?
Contact Information
Phone: 218.334.6800
Email: [email protected]
Address: PO Box 432, 305 W Main Ave, Frazee,MN,56544
Social Media
