Carissa Patrone Maikuri
Hometown:
Riverside, CA and grew up in Northville, MI
Connect: LinkedIn
Carissa is excited to contribute to the strengthening of rural economies through community facilitation and training, implementing rural recreation and placemaking plans, and co-creating a land use plan in various communities. She is committed to building flourishing partnerships with local leaders by fostering trust, knowledge-sharing, and authentic collaboration.
Carissa Patrone Maikuri is a passionate connector with a multidisciplinary background in climate change, sustainability, community-led development, health and well-being, communications, education, and research. She is an advocate, bridge-builder, lifelong learner, and mindful leader who enjoys partnering with others to challenge systems, co-create holistic solutions, and center those most impacted by intersectional injustices. Carissa is the Owner of CMPM Consulting LLC, a small business focused on partnering with and supporting values-aligned organizations and changemakers to advance solutions for people and the planet.
Patrone Maikuri holds a Masters in Public Administration and Bachelors of Arts degrees in Spanish and Communication Studies with a minor in Advertising and Public Relations from Grand Valley State University. She also holds a certificate in Climate Change and Health from the Yale School of Public Health and is a professionally trained Spanish interpreter.
Her work has been featured in The Lancet Planetary Health, UNFCCC Climate Champions, Illuminem, New Security Beat, WGVU’s Sustainable Community Voices, RPCVs for Environmental Action, and more. In her free time, Carissa enjoys spending time with loved ones, being outside, hiking, meditating, playing soccer, reading, photography, adventuring in new places, and supporting small local businesses.
ERC Project
Project Title:
Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) Revitalizing Rural Western Economies
Host Community or Region:
Northern California
Host Organization:
RCAC, in collaboration with Plumas County, CA
The Rural Community Assistance Corporation's (RCAC) Building Rural Economies (BRE) program specializes in a capacity-building model that seamlessly bridges planning and implementation for rural western economies. RCAC strives to address common barriers faced by rural communities, such as geographic isolation, federal and state policy challenges, unequal resource allocation/investment, and untapped assets and leadership potential. This model incorporates inclusive community engagement and leverages local assets and resources to support innovation, spur business growth, and enhance community and regional self-sufficiency. The ERC Fellow will play a pivotal role in increasing the capacity of the BRE team and local community partner organizations in Northern California. Their responsibilities include assessing community needs, developing work plans, and identifying resources to support communities in implementing catalytic projects and other capacity-building strategies.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
