Pathfinding Sessions: A Starting Point for Your Community-Led Work
- Shaleigh R. Howells
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Launching or sustaining community-led initiatives—whether in a nonprofit, tribal, or grassroots context—can be both rewarding and complex. At River to Ridge Consulting, we understand that leaders often face challenges related to historic preservation, community engagement, and strategic planning.
Pathfinding Sessions are designed to serve as an introduction—a low-pressure, high-impact way to explore your goals and challenges in conversation with a trusted advisor. These sessions are not tied to major deliverables. Instead, they’re intentionally exploratory: a space to reflect, ask questions, and gain clarity before diving deeper into project work.
What Are Pathfinding Sessions?
Pathfinding Sessions are personalized, one-on-one consultations with River to Ridge founder Shaleigh Howells. With years of experience in community-driven preservation and engagement work, Shaleigh offers a thoughtful, collaborative space to begin conversations about your project’s potential.
These sessions are especially helpful if you’re:
Navigating early-stage ideas and not sure where to start
Exploring issues related to organizational strategy, data sovereignty, cultural preservation, or community planning
Looking for guidance on how to align your project with community values and long-term impact
What to Expect From the Sessions
A Personalized Consultation
Each Pathfinding Session centers around you—your goals, your community context, and your questions. You'll be invited to share where you are in your process, and Shaleigh will offer reflections, resources, and guidance tailored to your unique situation.
Expert Insight Without the Pressure
These sessions are not about committing to a full consulting contract right away. Instead, they are an opportunity to test the waters—to explore whether River to Ridge’s approach aligns with your needs and to begin building a trusted working relationship.
Resources and Referrals (When Helpful)
As appropriate, we’ll offer simple, practical resources to support your work, including:
Guidance on next steps for your project
Referrals to other trusted collaborators or resources.
Sample frameworks for engagement or planning
A Collaborative, Supportive Space
Pathfinding Sessions are grounded in collaboration. While the session is typically one-on-one with a consultant, you’re welcome to bring others from your team, organization, or community into the conversation.
Together, we create a supportive space for open dialogue—where ideas, challenges, and goals can be explored with honesty and care. These sessions are not about having all the answers; they’re about starting the conversation and building a foundation for meaningful, community-centered work.
Collaborative and Grounded in Respect
We deeply value the relationships we build with clients and partners. Pathfinding Sessions are meant to foster mutual understanding, grounded in cultural respect and community priorities. Whether you represent a tribal nation, a nonprofit, government agency, or a grassroots group, we meet you where you are.
Why Start with a Pathfinding Session?
While full-scale projects often involve strategic planning, deliverables, and implementation, Pathfinding Sessions are a chance to pause and reflect before all that begins. They help ensure that when you do move forward, you do so with clarity, confidence, and the right support.
How to Schedule a Session
If you’re interested in exploring a Pathfinding Session, we’d love to connect. You can click the link below to schedule a time to meet. We’ll follow up to learn more about what you’re working on and whether a session might be a good fit.
Let’s Begin the Conversation
At River to Ridge Consulting, we believe in the power of community-led change. Pathfinding Sessions are one way we begin that work—by listening, exploring, and supporting your vision from the ground up.
We invite you to reach out, introduce yourself, and see where the conversation leads.
