In preparation for NEV’s integration into the NECC, the organization’s Village Manager will be joining us as an NECC staff member. A longtime community builder, Teri McKenzie joins the NECC with decades of experience working in both the nonprofit sector and higher education.
 
Teri served as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Senegal and upon her return founded a non-profit organization to connect people, place, food and farms to promote individual health, the environment, and the local economy. She also found time in her busy career to earn a MA in Whole Systems Design: Nonprofit Leadership, before spending the past year working with NEV to create and support programs and connections.
 
“I have experienced the power of community in my own life to carry me through both good times and difficult ones. I believe community and connection to others is essential for our individual and collective well-being.”  
 
Having immersed herself in intentional community building for much of her professional career, Teri is excited for the opportunity to connect with NECC community members and explore opportunities for working together across generational lines. Combining their individual strengths, Teri explains, will allow the NECC and the NEV Program to have an even greater impact and reach their shared goal of serving a wide community of Portlanders.
 
Welcome, Teri!