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Critical Analysis #5: Where is this timeline leading me? 

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Critical Analysis #5: Where is this timeline leading me? 

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1) Any funding proposal for that I support (for organizational programming) needs to be validated by qualitative and quantitative stakeholder input.

2) Made X Mtns is at a turning point, and I wonder if/how the program will continue to serve community from here. I think we need to continue to ask ourselves about the role of regional organizations and really consider capacity if we choose continue community development programming. It's also alright for the Made X Mtn's program to exist in a state of uncertainty and watch and listen before jumping into action. Grant funded programs aren't meant to be forever-- they can provide a spark and build capacity where it didn't exist before. There's a lot to explore here when we think about the future of the program, and this process of riding organizational change shouldn't be rushed.

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Critical Analysis #4: Development of Key Relationships 

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Critical Analysis #4: Development of Key Relationships 

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As I head into the second year of ERC, development of key relationships continues to grow. I'm beginning to strengthen relationships with staff at regional Councils of Government and am growing my understanding of the roles of various non-profits within the region. Leaning on Made X Mtn's staff has been helpful in setting up initial conversations with stakeholders throughout the region. Taking time off over the summer for parental leave, and then needing to evacuate the region due to Hurricane Helene at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct has stalled relationship building, but I'm engaging in new conversations with folks throughout the region on a weekly basis.

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Critical Analysis #3: To what extent has the journey been participatory? Opportunities to go from "me" to "we"? 

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Critical Analysis #3: To what extent has the journey been participatory? Opportunities to go from "me" to "we"? 

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One of my first tasks was to support the development of Recommendation Reports for communities who participated in the Building Outdoor Communities (BOC) Program. Due to capacity constraints, the reports functioned more as a summary of information that communities had submitted via electronic survey. One of the challenges with this is that Made X Mtns was not really able to discern if the electronic surveys had been submitted collaboratively and inclusively. The county-based Recommendation Reports could be stronger if 1) level of collaboration that went into survey submission could be validated and 2) if the draft reports had gone through iterative editing phases alongside to community to ensure that content aligned with local understanding/goals. Over the next month (Jan 2025) I'll be connecting with county-level BOC cohorts to review reports and check in about local progress/challenges/TA needs. Takeaway: participatory processes take time, but economic development processes/deliverables can really be lacking in their usefulness if they are developed on assumptions. My capstone project (and hopefully future community development programming) with Made X Mtns will hopefully be responsive to the feedback we hear directly from WNC communities.

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Critical Analysis #2: How did I use my learning?

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Critical Analysis #2: How did I use my learning?

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-I'm still in the process of figuring out how to implement new knowledge. I want my capstone to be supportive to outdoor recreation stakeholders across the WNC region. As Made X Mtn's evolves, I want to support the organization in maximizing its effectiveness by filling regional gaps-- which all hinges on the feedback we receive from stakeholders.

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Critical Analysis #1: New Economic Development Takeaways

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Critical Analysis #1: New Economic Development Takeaways

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-While I understood that economic and community development need to be collaborative and community-driven to be effective, the first year as an ERC Fellow underscored that knowledge. Economic development practitioners need to operate within larger ecosystems comprised of public and private partners.

-This was my first time working with a regional organization. I had worked with a four-county EDO in the past, but Made X Mtn's territory is much larger (25+ counties). Regional support requires lending a hand to folks working locally-- out of necessity (I think), I've found myself connecting with staff within local government and organizations rather than with community members directly, due to the scope of region I serve. I've needed to adopt a lens that considers regional appropriateness. For example, the data collected through the WNC Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey can be tapped into by stakeholders throughout the region, providing an example of a resource that an organization like Made X Mtns can provide.

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Wrong Way Cafe & Campground is the unofficial Made X Mtns office. It's the coziest spot to strategize, focus, and connect. 

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Rose: As we head into the New Year, I am genuinely excited about projects in the works. A grant proposal to ARC for the Outdoor Business Alliance (a partner organization) is underway. Throughout January, we are reconnecting with communities post-Helene. And hopefully we'll be hosting two in-person workshops focused on resiliency of outdoor economies in early spring. More than ever, I'm committed to ensuring that work in this field is stakeholder driven.

Bud: Ideas for my capstone project are shaping up.

Thorn: The need in WNC is so high right now. In response to change (see previous slide), Made X Mtns has an opportunity to define and concentrate our niche (which is exciting but hard).

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Made X Mtns is developing a short film on a trail connector project that links Lees-McRae College to the Town of Banner Elk. Here, Lees-McRae students are practicing tent set-up during an Outdoor Recreation Management course.

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Thorn: Organizational changes (personnel, funding, etc.) and regional physical + economic change (Hurricane Helene) has thrown me for a loop. This first year in WNC did not look like I imagined it would, and I'm trying to stay positive and maximize my usefulness as a Fellow and help Made X Mtns best serve community needs as the organization moves into a new era.

Rose: I'm inspired by conversations of resiliency and recovery. Similarly, the swiftness with which Mountain BizWorks has stood up loan and grant funds is incredible to witness.

Bud: Organizational change can necessitate us to be leaner, more intentional, and more concentrated in the services provided to community.

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Quick Facts:

-40% of small business do not reopen their doors following a natural disaster (FEMA)

-Estimated 59B in repair and recovery funds needed (NCOSBM) from Hurricane Helene

-Estimated 822 miles of trail damaged due to Helene (USFS)

Rose: N/A N/A N/A The only rose I can see right now may be that WNC is forced to confront climate change and resiliency, hopefully making the region stronger against future flooding events.

Bud: Neighbors leaned on neighbors. I feel so much closer to the families in my neighborhood.

Thorn: The loss (of life, homes, businesses, infrastructure) wrought by Hurricane Helene cannot be understated. After days without electricity or running water, I was able to leave WNC with our baby. Those days are characterized by heart palpitations, the sound of helicopters, and a sense of unknown.

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June: BIG CHANGES: Shifts in Personal Life

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June: BIG CHANGES: Shifts in Personal Life

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Rose: The birth of my daughter has shaken the foundation of my being. Every cliche about words not being able to express love is true.

Bud: My time is stretched thinner than it was before, causing me to be more efficient and direct. I'm enjoying discovering a new version of myself that cuts to the chase more quickly than before.

Thorn: Breastfeeding and working has been a challenge. I'm grateful that our nursing journey has been going so well, but working and breastfeeding/pumping adds in a really intense layer of multi-tasking.

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April & May: Rooting Down: Data Launch & Community Listening

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April & May: Rooting Down: Data Launch & Community Listening

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Quick Facts:

-WNC Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey finds that outdoor recreation generates 4.9B in economic output

-7 community roundtables hosted throughout WNC

-Two new economic impact tools launched through partnership with Appalachian State University

Rose: The launch of the WNC Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey provided WNC counties with groundbreaking data on the impact of the outdoor recreation economy. We used the data launch as the basis for connecting with county-cohorts. This time period was helpful in deepening community connections and understanding economic and social nuance within the region.

Bud: Communities across the region spoke to the need for destination stewardship/management. Conversations surrounding housing, accessibility and inclusion, asset maintenance, land use, and environmental integrity gave me lots of sparks to work with when it comes to shaping my capstone.

Thorn: The size of my host organization necessitates regionalism. I struggle to rewire my brain to think regionally rather than hyper-locally.

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Quick Facts:

-25 WNC counties in Made X Mtns' service area

-Two National Forests (Pisgah and Nantahala)

-19 counties completed the seven-month Building Outdoor Communities Program

Rose: I'm so lucky to work on an outdoor economic development focused project. Exploring communities and outdoor assets in WNC continues to bring me joy.

Bud: I felt like I knew West Virginia like the back of my hand...and now I had a whole 1/3 of a state to get to know (both professionally and personally).

Thorn: While Asheville offers great access to the outdoors, adjusting to a more urban environment has had its challenges. Destination stewardship is top-of-mind for many WNC communities, and I get why! Overuse poses challenges in some parts of the region and affects connection with nature.

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Rose: I was riding adrenaline at the ERC kick-off, feeling honored and excited to participate in the inaugural ERC cohort. Connecting with other fellows-- learning about their prior work experience, travels, hobbies, etc.-- was inspiring.

Bud: The partner organization presentations and CEcD overview gave me an sense of the learning that would take place over the next 2.5 years.

Thorn: Imposter Syndrome-- how exactly did I end up here?