Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your career journey to date.

I began my career managing corporate wellness events across the country, which gave me the opportunity to travel to every state in the U.S.—except Alaska (I’ll get there one day)!. Along the way, I met incredible people and gained valuable experience working with diverse teams and organizations.

About ten years later, I was approached by GoDaddy at the perfect moment, just as I was starting a family. I stepped into a role where I could help small businesses grow their presence on social media. While I had always enjoyed working with large corporations, the opportunity to support small businesses and watch their growth year over year was especially meaningful.

I joined the Marketing Services Premium team as an Account Manager, where I spent five years working closely with clients and building strong relationships. During that time, I advanced into a Team Lead role and truly valued the collaboration and impact our team made for so many businesses. When the account management team was eventually eliminated, I knew I wanted to continue my journey with GoDaddy.

I stayed proactive, exploring new opportunities within the company, and was excited to step into a role in Commerce Account Management when it became available. This position has allowed me to expand my impact by helping businesses grow not only through marketing, but by leveraging the full suite of GoDaddy products. It’s been exactly the challenge I was looking for, and I’ve genuinely enjoyed being part of this team ever since.

How do you stay connected to your customers’ evolving needs as their businesses change and grow?

I stay connected to my merchants by building a strong relationship from the very beginning. As soon as they’re assigned to my book, I reach out to introduce myself as their direct point of contact for anything GoDaddy-related and look for an opportunity to provide immediate value. That early support helps establish trust and sets the tone for an ongoing partnership.

From there, I maintain consistent communication—typically reaching out at least every other month to share relevant updates, check in on their business goals, and follow up on any challenges they may be facing. I also make sure they’re connected with the right resources quickly, so issues are resolved efficiently and they can stay focused on running their business.

Beyond day-to-day support, I prioritize listening to their feedback and advocating for their needs internally.

Our role allows us to be a true voice for our merchants, and as a team, we’ve helped drive meaningful improvements based on their input.

It’s incredibly rewarding to see those changes make a real impact on their experience and support their continued growth.

How do you keep up with e-commerce trends so you can be a valuable resource for your customers?

I stay current on e-commerce trends through a combination of team collaboration and ongoing learning. As a team, we regularly share insights, emerging trends, and real-world merchant experiences so we can proactively bring relevant ideas to our customers.

One example is the growing use of surcharging as businesses look for ways to manage rising costs in a challenging economic environment. While many merchants are initially hesitant to pass fees on to their customers, we’re able to provide context around how widely this approach is being adopted and help them evaluate whether it makes sense for their business.

By staying informed and having these consultative conversations, I’m able to offer practical, timely guidance that helps my customers make informed decisions and adapt as their businesses evolve.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their online business, what would it be?

If I could give one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, it would be to prioritize building a strong online presence from day one. A user-friendly, well-designed website is essential—it’s often your first impression and a key factor in turning visitors into customers.

Just as important is making sure people can actually find you. Investing in marketing, especially social media, can make a huge difference. While it may seem time-consuming at first, many businesses thrive because of the visibility and connection they build through those platforms.

No matter what you sell or where you operate, having a consistent and intentional online presence will set the foundation for long-term growth.

How has GoDaddy supported your personal growth and learning initiatives?

GoDaddy has played a huge role in my personal growth by consistently challenging me to learn and expand my skill set. I’ve had the opportunity to deepen my knowledge of a wide range of GoDaddy products, especially in my current role, where I’m trained across the full suite and regularly speak to merchants about how to use them effectively.

Because GoDaddy offers so many solutions, this experience has allowed me to become more well-rounded and confident in identifying the right tools for each business. I’m able to better understand my merchants’ needs and provide solutions that truly support their growth, no matter what challenges they’re facing.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, my time is mostly spent with my family. I’m a mom of two, and even though they’re still young—5 and 7—they’re already very active in sports. My daughter, Charli, is on a traveling all-star cheerleading team and also performs as a ballerina in local recitals. My son, Huxley, plays both soccer and baseball, so our schedule is always full and constantly on the go.

In addition to family life, I recently took the leap into starting my own baking business, The Rustic Belle. Working with so many business owners inspired me to build something of my own, and GoDaddy has been a great resource in helping me get it off the ground—from building my website to supporting marketing and payments.

Between family, sports, and running a growing business, I definitely stay busy, but I genuinely enjoy it all.

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DULUTH, Minn., May 20, 2026 /3BL/ – The Entrepreneur Fund (EFund), with support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, is excited to announce the 26 recipients of the Rural Field to Market Grant, a one-time funding opportunity designed to strengthen small- to mid-size farm and food businesses across EFund’s Minnesota service area.

Through a highly competitive application process, EFund received over 100 applications from food and farm businesses across the region. Following careful review, 26 grants totaling $450,000 were awarded to businesses in 11 Minnesota counties, supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of the field-to-market journey.

Grant funds will support a wide range of business investments, including purchasing equipment to increase production, improving harvest and processing efficiencies, and establishing more permanent pathways to market. Collectively, these investments will help recipients increase revenue, strengthen long-term viability, expand local sourcing, and create new market opportunities within their communities.

“We believe strong rural businesses create opportunities for families, jobs, and entire communities,” said Gustavo Perez, vice president, Philanthropy and Community Impact at Wells Fargo. “This program stood out because it helps food and farm entrepreneurs make practical investments that deepen roots in the region and contribute to tangible economic growth.”

2026 Rural Field to Market Grant Recipients: (listed alphabetically by county)

• Murphy’s Grove, Aitkin County – Purchase equipment that allows farm to produce a high-quality frozen yogurt ice pop at scale.
• River Bend Gardens, Aitkin County – Improve efficiencies with fiber processing and increase wool washing.
• Food Farm, Carlton County – Extend the growing season to provide increased wholesale production or local, organic, vegetables.
• Native Wise, LLC, Carlton County – On-site meat house to process bison quarters and halves, allowing the farm to establish a permanent field-to-market pathway from pasture to consumer.
• Northern Harvest Farm, Carlton County – Increased harvest efficiency, expanded storage capacity, and measurable growth in retail distribution through the purchase of scale-appropriate harvesting equipment and storage bins.
• Spirit Lake Native Farms, Carlton County – To create a reliable, temperature-controlled storage infrastructure that directly increases revenue capacity, expands market access, and strengthens the business’ long-term viability.
• Brakstad Family Farm, Cass County – Increased wholesale revenue and new institutional market opportunities through the purchase of enhanced distribution materials.
• Strictly Mushrooms, Cass County – Increase consistent, efficient, and safe transportation for product and supplies, allowing for an immediate and sustained increase in their farm’s long term business viability.
• Downtime Farm, Cook County – Increased farm productivity and expanded production capacity through the purchase of a high-powered potato digger and increased irrigation.
• Good Nature Farm, Cook County – Enhanced post-harvest equipment allowing their farm to increase salad mix revenue, expand and enhance institutional markets in healthcare, and strengthen their overall business.
• Treeline Acres, LLC, Crow Wing County – Equipment upgrades to expand CSA production.
• Ya Sure Kombucha, Crow Wing – Increased production and efficiency through the purchase of an electric brewhouse, fermenters and chiller equipment resulting in up to 75% growth.
• Dowell Farm and Garden, Itasca County – Increase production efficiency, improve crop reliability, and strengthen the farm’s ability to meet consistent demand from wholesale and institutional markets through the purchase of a greenhouse.
• Orty’s Custom Meats, Itasca County – Increased market access for small livestock producers, improved efficiency at their processing facility, and expanded availability of locally raised, inspected meat.
• Dustin Roemhild Farm, Kanabec County – Diversify operations with the addition of cow calf pairs to grow cattle production.
• Goldenrod Market Garden, Kanabec County – Diversify product offerings with an herb drying and processing area to enable the production of tea and medicinal herbs for off-season sales.
• In-Cider Orchard, Kanabec County – Supports the successful completion of their apple processing facility allowing them to produce a value-added product and expand their market base.
• Nelson Grass Farm, Kanabec County – Farm infrastructure improvements to increase egg production by over 4,300 dozen per year.
• Sapsucker Farms, Kanabec County – To purchase a keg washer and pump to expand cider production.
• Backroad Meats Inc, Mille Lacs County – Temperature controlled delivery vehicle to expand supply chain for local restaurants and area non-profit meat raffles.
• Peterson’s Farm, Mille Lacs County – Expand pasture land and add egg mobile to increase egg production revenue 500% by 2030.
• Meadowbrook Dairy, Inc., Stearns County – Expand and strengthen the farm’s direct-to-consumer beef business generating long-term impacts on revenue, market access, and community engagement.
• Arrowhead Outdoors, St. Louis County – Develop an efficient, reliable source of Minnesota-grown baitfish.
• Farm Sol, St. Louis County – Improve product quality, extend shelf life, and reduce loss through increased long-term cold storage capacity for flowers and produce.
• Rose Cottage Baking Co. LLC, St. Louis County – To expand local offerings within the store and catering through a cooler space expansion.
• Stone Hill Farms, Todd County – To significantly increase the productivity, consistency, and profitability of vegetable operation by installing and utilizing a heated greenhouse for plant starts.

About the Entrepreneur Fund

The Entrepreneur Fund is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local businesses and promoting economic growth and success in central and northeast Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin. For over 35 years, EFund has partnered with thousands of entrepreneurs in rural and underserved areas, providing over $177 million in accessible capital, strategic advising and business-building programs. Learn more at www.efund.org.

Contact: Samantha Erkkila, Marketing Content Manager
samanthae@efund.org, 763-229-7470

DULUTH, Minn., May 20, 2026 /3BL/ – The Entrepreneur Fund (EFund), with support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, is excited to announce the 26 recipients of the Rural Field to Market Grant, a one-time funding opportunity designed to strengthen small- to mid-size farm and food businesses across EFund’s Minnesota service area.

Through a highly competitive application process, EFund received over 100 applications from food and farm businesses across the region. Following careful review, 26 grants totaling $450,000 were awarded to businesses in 11 Minnesota counties, supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of the field-to-market journey.

Grant funds will support a wide range of business investments, including purchasing equipment to increase production, improving harvest and processing efficiencies, and establishing more permanent pathways to market. Collectively, these investments will help recipients increase revenue, strengthen long-term viability, expand local sourcing, and create new market opportunities within their communities.

“We believe strong rural businesses create opportunities for families, jobs, and entire communities,” said Gustavo Perez, vice president, Philanthropy and Community Impact at Wells Fargo. “This program stood out because it helps food and farm entrepreneurs make practical investments that deepen roots in the region and contribute to tangible economic growth.”

2026 Rural Field to Market Grant Recipients: (listed alphabetically by county)

• Murphy’s Grove, Aitkin County – Purchase equipment that allows farm to produce a high-quality frozen yogurt ice pop at scale.
• River Bend Gardens, Aitkin County – Improve efficiencies with fiber processing and increase wool washing.
• Food Farm, Carlton County – Extend the growing season to provide increased wholesale production or local, organic, vegetables.
• Native Wise, LLC, Carlton County – On-site meat house to process bison quarters and halves, allowing the farm to establish a permanent field-to-market pathway from pasture to consumer.
• Northern Harvest Farm, Carlton County – Increased harvest efficiency, expanded storage capacity, and measurable growth in retail distribution through the purchase of scale-appropriate harvesting equipment and storage bins.
• Spirit Lake Native Farms, Carlton County – To create a reliable, temperature-controlled storage infrastructure that directly increases revenue capacity, expands market access, and strengthens the business’ long-term viability.
• Brakstad Family Farm, Cass County – Increased wholesale revenue and new institutional market opportunities through the purchase of enhanced distribution materials.
• Strictly Mushrooms, Cass County – Increase consistent, efficient, and safe transportation for product and supplies, allowing for an immediate and sustained increase in their farm’s long term business viability.
• Downtime Farm, Cook County – Increased farm productivity and expanded production capacity through the purchase of a high-powered potato digger and increased irrigation.
• Good Nature Farm, Cook County – Enhanced post-harvest equipment allowing their farm to increase salad mix revenue, expand and enhance institutional markets in healthcare, and strengthen their overall business.
• Treeline Acres, LLC, Crow Wing County – Equipment upgrades to expand CSA production.
• Ya Sure Kombucha, Crow Wing – Increased production and efficiency through the purchase of an electric brewhouse, fermenters and chiller equipment resulting in up to 75% growth.
• Dowell Farm and Garden, Itasca County – Increase production efficiency, improve crop reliability, and strengthen the farm’s ability to meet consistent demand from wholesale and institutional markets through the purchase of a greenhouse.
• Orty’s Custom Meats, Itasca County – Increased market access for small livestock producers, improved efficiency at their processing facility, and expanded availability of locally raised, inspected meat.
• Dustin Roemhild Farm, Kanabec County – Diversify operations with the addition of cow calf pairs to grow cattle production.
• Goldenrod Market Garden, Kanabec County – Diversify product offerings with an herb drying and processing area to enable the production of tea and medicinal herbs for off-season sales.
• In-Cider Orchard, Kanabec County – Supports the successful completion of their apple processing facility allowing them to produce a value-added product and expand their market base.
• Nelson Grass Farm, Kanabec County – Farm infrastructure improvements to increase egg production by over 4,300 dozen per year.
• Sapsucker Farms, Kanabec County – To purchase a keg washer and pump to expand cider production.
• Backroad Meats Inc, Mille Lacs County – Temperature controlled delivery vehicle to expand supply chain for local restaurants and area non-profit meat raffles.
• Peterson’s Farm, Mille Lacs County – Expand pasture land and add egg mobile to increase egg production revenue 500% by 2030.
• Meadowbrook Dairy, Inc., Stearns County – Expand and strengthen the farm’s direct-to-consumer beef business generating long-term impacts on revenue, market access, and community engagement.
• Arrowhead Outdoors, St. Louis County – Develop an efficient, reliable source of Minnesota-grown baitfish.
• Farm Sol, St. Louis County – Improve product quality, extend shelf life, and reduce loss through increased long-term cold storage capacity for flowers and produce.
• Rose Cottage Baking Co. LLC, St. Louis County – To expand local offerings within the store and catering through a cooler space expansion.
• Stone Hill Farms, Todd County – To significantly increase the productivity, consistency, and profitability of vegetable operation by installing and utilizing a heated greenhouse for plant starts.

About the Entrepreneur Fund

The Entrepreneur Fund is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local businesses and promoting economic growth and success in central and northeast Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin. For over 35 years, EFund has partnered with thousands of entrepreneurs in rural and underserved areas, providing over $177 million in accessible capital, strategic advising and business-building programs. Learn more at www.efund.org.

Contact: Samantha Erkkila, Marketing Content Manager
samanthae@efund.org, 763-229-7470

WINDHOEK, Namibia, May 20, 2026 /3BL/ – Today, the Government of The Republic of Namibia, in partnership with a network of communal conservancies, and a global coalition including WWF and its Enduring Earth partners, announced the permanent conservation of up to 50 million acres through the launch of a historic initiative called Namibia for Life.

Namibia For Life is Africa’s first Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) initiative. It helps the country’s 87 communal conservancies sustain their conservation success and build on decades of revitalizing iconic wildlife populations by strengthening their natural resource management and self-governance and investing in sustainable rural livelihoods. Co-designed with communities, Namibia for Life can ultimately support up to 100 conservancies, ensuring future community support. Namibia for Life encompasses more than 20% of the country, an area larger than Nebraska, where more than 283,000 conservancy members rely on healthy wildlife and natural resources.

“I regard the PFP initiative as a significant milestone in advancing community-led conservation and sustainable development,” said Thomas Muronga, Chairperson of National Communal Conservancy and Community Forest Alliance (NCCFA). “It offers essential support to strengthen the capacity of our member conservancies and community forests, ensuring long-term environmental stewardship and socio-economic benefits. Through this partnership, we aim to enhance coordination, accountability, and impact for the benefit of present and future generations.”

Investing in Namibia’s legacy of conservancies means backing what works. Since the first conservancy formed in 1998, communities have used their traditional knowledge to bring wildlife populations back from the brink of extinction. There were only a few hundred black rhinos left in Namibia in 1990. Now, Namibia is home to the second largest black rhino population in the world. Namibia’s elephant population has quadrupled, and desert-dwelling lion numbers have increased sevenfold since 1995.

“Namibia’s rich biodiversity is a national asset that underpins our tourism economy, rural livelihoods, and our resilience to climate change,” said Namibia’s Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Elijah Ngurare. “Initiatives such as Namibia for Life demonstrate how strategic partnerships can translate conservation achievements into long-term socio-economic benefits for our people.”

Namibia for Life is possible because of the collaboration between Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) , the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia (CCFN), the Namibian Association of Community Based Natural Resource Management Support Organisations (NACSO), WWF, and other key partners: Bezos Earth Fund, Carmen Busquets, Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), Enduring Earth, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Impact Tank Analysis Foundation, the Liz Claiborne & Art Ortenberg Foundation, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, National Communal Conservancy and Community Forest Alliance (NCCFA), The ProNamib Trust, Laurie and Jeffrey Ubben, and ZOMA LAB. WWF and our partners also recognize the many years of critical support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW for CCFN and the conservancy movement.

“Namibia for Life will secure long-term, sustainable financing to strengthen communal conservancies and the extension services that keep them effective in one of the world’s most important dryland biodiversity strongholds,” said Claude Gascon, Interim CEO and Director of Strategy and Operations at the GEF. “This is a great example of a whole-of-society approach to achieving the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s goal of conserving 30% of land, waters, and seas by 2030.”

“After 30 years of commitment and support to the community-based natural resource management movement, the launch of Namibia for Life and the long-term funding it provides is a dream come true. This funding will maintain a lasting foundation from which to launch new opportunities for nature and people into the future. What a wonderful achievement. We are proud as WWF to be part of this partnership,” said Dr Juliane Zeidler, WWF Namibia Country Director.

Many of these communities were severely affected when tourism came to a standstill during the pandemic. To help them better weather future economic shifts, Namibia for Life will support the creation of additional sustainable businesses while strengthening tried-and-true local enterprises. This initiative achieves this by bolstering the connection between sustainable livelihoods and strong conservation outcomes through innovative mechanisms like the Socio-Economic Development Fund (SEDF).

Establishing and expanding nature-based businesses like tourist lodges, honey and craft value chains, wildlife-friendly products, and local services keeps income in communities and reduces pressure on natural resources.

“Namibia’s communal conservancies have proven that when local communities have the authority and resources to manage their wildlife, both wildlife and communities flourish,” said Nik Sekhran, Chief Conservation Officer at World Wildlife Fund. “Namibia for Life builds on this trusted model by securing permanent funding and policy support for up to 100 conservancies managing up to 20 million hectares. This is Africa’s first Project Finance for Permanence initiative, and it works precisely because it enables communities who are already conservation experts to scale what they do best: protecting wildlife while building sustainable enterprises that benefit their families and future generations.”

Namibia for Life employs the PFP approach, which secures the policies and funding for conservation success in a single agreement so that systems of conservation areas are well-managed, sustainably financed, and benefit the communities that rely on them. Today, Namibia for Life is launching as a $63-million initiative, which includes an endowment fund that will support sustainable finance mechanisms for communities in perpetuity. With additional investments from the Green Climate Fund (GCF)—through the Climate Resilient Enduring Earth (CREE) initiative—and other partners, the fund has the potential to increase to more than $75 million.

“Namibia’s community conservancies show that nature can recover when communities have the power and resources to manage the lands they know best. Philanthropy can help turn that local leadership into lasting finance and Namibia for Life brings that promise to life, giving 30×30 — the global goal of protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030 — the staying power it will need long after the announcement,” said Dr. Cristián Samper, Managing Director and Leader for Nature Solutions of Bezos Earth Fund.

Namibia for Life is part of the growing community of locally designed and led PFP initiatives that are part of Enduring Earth, a bold collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, The Pew Charitable Trusts, World Wildlife Fund, and ZOMA LAB. Enduring Earth partners with governments, communities, Indigenous peoples, and funders to accelerate conservation and sustainable development, address biodiversity loss, secure durable financing, and enhance economic growth, using the PFP model. Namibia for Life marks the eighth PFP initiative under Enduring Earth, working with local leadership to durably finance and conserve a total of 572 million acres of lands and waters in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, and Mongolia since its launch in 2021, and securing more than US$1.8 billion in sustainable finance for nature and people.

Quotes from Additional Namibia for Life Partners

“As Chairperson of the Okongo Conservancy, I am very happy and excited about the Namibia for Life Project Finance for Permanence initiative. It will strengthen capacity, improve governance, and ensure our communities benefit more from conservation, while also supporting better monitoring of donor funds in our conservancies.” — Martha Nghidengwa, Chairperson of Okongo Conservancy

“This initiative strengthens national ownership of conservation financing while ensuring that communities remain at the heart of natural resource management. The Namibia for Life PFP is aligned with government priorities and reinforces our commitment to inclusive, community driven conservation.” — Honourable Indileni Daniel, Namibia’s Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

“Since 2000, NACSO has proudly supported Namibia’s CBNRM program through a collaborative, multiparter model that delivers coordinated and cost-effective support to communities across the country. We are honored to support Namibia for Life as a bold and transformative milestone, securing permanent, sustainable financing and strengthening community led conservation for generations to come.” — Maxi Louis, Director of NACSO

“This is a decisive step in securing long-term funding to support communities managing wildlife and natural resources. With consistent extension services, it will help ensure communities remain well-governed and able to deliver both conservation and livelihood benefits. It also helps maintain Namibia’s position as a global leader in community-based conservation.” — Advocate Andrew Corbett, Board Chair of CCFN

“SEDF is an important step toward building stronger, more sustainable conservancy economies in Namibia. By combining enterprise support with access to appropriate finance, we are assisting community-based businesses to strengthen their operations, improve investment readiness, and create long-term livelihood opportunities linked to conservation.” — Elzine Mushambi, Founder of Impact Tank

“Namibia for Life demonstrates how nature conservation and benefits for local communities go hand in hand. We are delighted to expand our work with the ProNamib Nature Reserve and community programs in Hardap by supporting this outstanding initiative for the whole of Namibia.” — John Bernstein, Chairman of The ProNamib Trust

“When I visited Namibia in 2018, I understood why it is such an important country for the future of conservation. Its commitment to community-led preservation, wildlife protection, and sustainable development is truly inspiring. After seeing firsthand the impact WWF created through Bhutan for Life, I had no doubt they were the ideal partner for an initiative like Namibia for Life.” — Carmen Busquets, WWF National Council Member

“Namibia for Life marks a defining moment for community-led conservation as the first Project Finance for Permanence initiative in Africa and the eighth globally since Enduring Earth was established in 2020. Led by communal conservancies, this PFP channels long-term finance into local nature-based enterprises and contributes to a total of more than U.S.$1.8 billion now secured in durable funding through PFPs. By backing community-run lodges, honey and craft value chains, and other nature-based businesses, Namibia for Life keeps income local, eases pressure on natural resources, and advances global 2030 conservation goals.” — Zdenka Piskulich, Managing Director of Enduring Earth

 

About World Wildlife Fund

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working for 60 years in nearly 100 countries to help people and nature thrive. With the support of nearly a million members in the United States and more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment, and combat the climate crisis.

A truly healthy environment nurtures both human body and mind. The WELL Building Standard and the pilot WELL Community Standard help define connection to nature and place as fundamental to human well-being. Translating these principles into lived experience invites innovative approaches. When interpreted with greater thoughtfulness and cultural and ecological sensitivity, they can take on a far deeper meaning. The Japanese philosophy of Satoyama offers one such lens.

Satoyama: A biophilic philosophy of coexistence with Nature
In Japanese, Satoyama (里山) refers to the semi-natural landscapes found between mountain foothills and flatlands, where natural elements such as rice paddies, forests and villages form a continuous, sustainable cycle linking people and land. More than a physical setting, it represents a philosophy of coexistence—one in which human activity and natural systems support one another in balance. Drawing inspiration from this timeless approach, the Ohara Sanso (大原山荘, literally “Ohara Mountain Villa”) seeks to deepen the spirit of Satoyama within a contemporary context.

Nestled in the Ohara region, an hour from Kyoto’s bustling city center—home to renowned temples in Japan such as Sanzen-in and Jakkō-in—the area has long been a place where culture and nature are deeply intertwined. Set within a small basin community of roughly 2,000 residents, the landscape reflects the traditional Satoyama harmony between people and the environment. Inspired by this sweeping natural setting, Toho Leo, a Japanese sustainable place-making collective, set to reimagine the site of roughly 10,000 kilometers in Ohara, encompassing a historic guest pavilion, a teahouse and an expansive landscape.

One critical challenge Ohara faces is the population aging and decline in Japan. The key to reimagining and revitalizing the Ohara area is to restore its lost foot traffic. The guest pavilion, once used as a reception villa for VIP guests, gradually fell into disuse, and Ohara’s vast, beautiful landscape became largely unknown to today’s visitors.

Driven by its mission to enrich lifestyles through nature- and culture-based real estate development and placemaking, Toho Leo recognized the overlooked potential of Ohara as an opportunity to help restore the human connection to nature within a rich and authentic cultural context.

Toho Leo believes that while wellness experiences are increasingly sought after by sophisticated visitors, many places face challenges to deliver meaningful experiences. Too often, nature and culture are presented superficially, lacking the depth and authenticity needed to create meaningful, lasting connections. Recognizing the strong potential of Ohara, Toho Leo seeks to reimagine the area as a truly distinctive wellness experience—one rooted not only in nature, but also in cultural memory and local identity.

Project Vision: Reimagining Wellness Through Satoyama
Ohara Sanso is being repurposed as a flagship venue showcasing Toho Leo’s Satoyama philosophy, offering an authentic Japanese Satoyama experience for the most sophisticated and discerning visitors. Through a diverse range of art and cultural events and sensory-rich wellness experiences, the project aims to rekindle and deepen the connection between people and the natural world.

To bring this vision to life, a carefully curated set of experiences is taking shape across the site. Visitors are invited to walk barefoot across a carpet of moss—renowned in Kyoto for its lush, velvety surface—which fosters a direct, bodily connection with nature. Mountain water is reintroduced into a rice paddy beside the teahouse, where guests can sit along the engawa (縁側—the traditional wooden veranda that mediates between interior and garden), enjoy tea and take in the changing light at sunset. Different genres of art and music experiences are woven into the landscape, creating unexpected harmonies and sparking moments of inspiration.

Equally important to realizing this vision is the process itself. Deeply rooted in the context of Ohara, every decision—whether concerning design, programming or operations—is made through close dialogue with local residents, ensuring that all interventions remain authentic while respecting local culture. The future of Ohara Sanso will have a meaningful impact on the community, and residents’ voices are heard, consensus is prioritized and the project is shaped with them—co-creating a shared vision for the future.

Beyond Connection: Toward a Reciprocal Relationship with Nature
Connection to nature is sometimes understood simply as access to greenery or scenic views. Yet wherever nature exists, there is also a relationship between people and their environment, and when time is added to this equation, that relationship becomes inseparable from local history and identity. The Satoyama philosophy encompasses all of these layers.

Today, as many rural areas in Japan face population decline and fading cultural continuity, the Ohara Sanso restoration explores the possibility of redefining our “connection to nature” as a reciprocal, place-based relationship that offers a potential model for regeneration, rather than extraction.

View original content here.

A truly healthy environment nurtures both human body and mind. The WELL Building Standard and the pilot WELL Community Standard help define connection to nature and place as fundamental to human well-being. Translating these principles into lived experience invites innovative approaches. When interpreted with greater thoughtfulness and cultural and ecological sensitivity, they can take on a far deeper meaning. The Japanese philosophy of Satoyama offers one such lens.

Satoyama: A biophilic philosophy of coexistence with Nature
In Japanese, Satoyama (里山) refers to the semi-natural landscapes found between mountain foothills and flatlands, where natural elements such as rice paddies, forests and villages form a continuous, sustainable cycle linking people and land. More than a physical setting, it represents a philosophy of coexistence—one in which human activity and natural systems support one another in balance. Drawing inspiration from this timeless approach, the Ohara Sanso (大原山荘, literally “Ohara Mountain Villa”) seeks to deepen the spirit of Satoyama within a contemporary context.

Nestled in the Ohara region, an hour from Kyoto’s bustling city center—home to renowned temples in Japan such as Sanzen-in and Jakkō-in—the area has long been a place where culture and nature are deeply intertwined. Set within a small basin community of roughly 2,000 residents, the landscape reflects the traditional Satoyama harmony between people and the environment. Inspired by this sweeping natural setting, Toho Leo, a Japanese sustainable place-making collective, set to reimagine the site of roughly 10,000 kilometers in Ohara, encompassing a historic guest pavilion, a teahouse and an expansive landscape.

One critical challenge Ohara faces is the population aging and decline in Japan. The key to reimagining and revitalizing the Ohara area is to restore its lost foot traffic. The guest pavilion, once used as a reception villa for VIP guests, gradually fell into disuse, and Ohara’s vast, beautiful landscape became largely unknown to today’s visitors.

Driven by its mission to enrich lifestyles through nature- and culture-based real estate development and placemaking, Toho Leo recognized the overlooked potential of Ohara as an opportunity to help restore the human connection to nature within a rich and authentic cultural context.

Toho Leo believes that while wellness experiences are increasingly sought after by sophisticated visitors, many places face challenges to deliver meaningful experiences. Too often, nature and culture are presented superficially, lacking the depth and authenticity needed to create meaningful, lasting connections. Recognizing the strong potential of Ohara, Toho Leo seeks to reimagine the area as a truly distinctive wellness experience—one rooted not only in nature, but also in cultural memory and local identity.

Project Vision: Reimagining Wellness Through Satoyama
Ohara Sanso is being repurposed as a flagship venue showcasing Toho Leo’s Satoyama philosophy, offering an authentic Japanese Satoyama experience for the most sophisticated and discerning visitors. Through a diverse range of art and cultural events and sensory-rich wellness experiences, the project aims to rekindle and deepen the connection between people and the natural world.

To bring this vision to life, a carefully curated set of experiences is taking shape across the site. Visitors are invited to walk barefoot across a carpet of moss—renowned in Kyoto for its lush, velvety surface—which fosters a direct, bodily connection with nature. Mountain water is reintroduced into a rice paddy beside the teahouse, where guests can sit along the engawa (縁側—the traditional wooden veranda that mediates between interior and garden), enjoy tea and take in the changing light at sunset. Different genres of art and music experiences are woven into the landscape, creating unexpected harmonies and sparking moments of inspiration.

Equally important to realizing this vision is the process itself. Deeply rooted in the context of Ohara, every decision—whether concerning design, programming or operations—is made through close dialogue with local residents, ensuring that all interventions remain authentic while respecting local culture. The future of Ohara Sanso will have a meaningful impact on the community, and residents’ voices are heard, consensus is prioritized and the project is shaped with them—co-creating a shared vision for the future.

Beyond Connection: Toward a Reciprocal Relationship with Nature
Connection to nature is sometimes understood simply as access to greenery or scenic views. Yet wherever nature exists, there is also a relationship between people and their environment, and when time is added to this equation, that relationship becomes inseparable from local history and identity. The Satoyama philosophy encompasses all of these layers.

Today, as many rural areas in Japan face population decline and fading cultural continuity, the Ohara Sanso restoration explores the possibility of redefining our “connection to nature” as a reciprocal, place-based relationship that offers a potential model for regeneration, rather than extraction.

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BETHESDA, Md., May 20, 2026 /3BL/ – Tandem Global announces the release of a new white paper, Microhabitats in Managed Landscapes: Designing Pollinator, Forest, and Wetland Habitats on a Micro-Scale, available for download today. This white paper is sponsored by Ontario Power Generation.

The world is urbanizing at an unprecedented pace. Today, more than half of the global population lives in cities, and by 2050, nearly 70 percent of people are expected to reside in dense urban environments. As development continues to replace natural landscapes with gray infrastructure, ecological connectivity is increasingly fragmented, placing growing pressure on biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and human well-being.

This white paper examines how companies are integrating microhabitats into urban and industrial landscapes. Through case studies focusing on microforests, pollinator habitats, and wetland habitats, it highlights how small-scale restoration projects can produce measurable ecological and social benefits, demonstrating that even modest interventions, when thoughtfully designed and implemented, can significantly support biodiversity.

Featured case studies include:

• WM, Harlem River Yard Transfer Station: New York, U.S.A.
• Fishbeck, Fishbeck Grand Rapids: Michigan, U.S.A.
• ITC Holdings, ITC Transmission Line Right-of-Way at Tomlinson Arboretum: Michigan, U.S.A.
• Navajo Refining Company, Navajo Nature Trail: New Mexico, U.S.A.
• Toyota, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia Inc.: West Virginia, U.S.A
• W.R. Grace, Baton Rouge Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Program by W.R. Grace, Albemarle & Ethyl: Louisiana, U.S.A.

Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation, this white paper features a foreword from Tracy Leung, Vice President of Environment Health and Safety, highlighting how OPG is implementing microhabitat initiatives across its operations through native pollinator gardens, wetland restoration, invasive species management, wildlife habitat enhancement, and community partnerships that support biodiversity and ecological resilience.

About Tandem Global

Tandem Global (formerly Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), provides the know-how and the network to move business and the environment forward, together. Across sectors and at all levels of its member organizations, Tandem Global works to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. It connects leading thinking with practical solutions that positively impact climate, nature, and water. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future. Tandem Global is headquartered in Bethesda, MD, USA, with locations across the U.S., in Latin America and Munich, Germany. For more information visit tandemglobal.org.

BETHESDA, Md., May 20, 2026 /3BL/ – Tandem Global announces the release of a new white paper, Microhabitats in Managed Landscapes: Designing Pollinator, Forest, and Wetland Habitats on a Micro-Scale, available for download today. This white paper is sponsored by Ontario Power Generation.

The world is urbanizing at an unprecedented pace. Today, more than half of the global population lives in cities, and by 2050, nearly 70 percent of people are expected to reside in dense urban environments. As development continues to replace natural landscapes with gray infrastructure, ecological connectivity is increasingly fragmented, placing growing pressure on biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and human well-being.

This white paper examines how companies are integrating microhabitats into urban and industrial landscapes. Through case studies focusing on microforests, pollinator habitats, and wetland habitats, it highlights how small-scale restoration projects can produce measurable ecological and social benefits, demonstrating that even modest interventions, when thoughtfully designed and implemented, can significantly support biodiversity.

Featured case studies include:

• WM, Harlem River Yard Transfer Station: New York, U.S.A.
• Fishbeck, Fishbeck Grand Rapids: Michigan, U.S.A.
• ITC Holdings, ITC Transmission Line Right-of-Way at Tomlinson Arboretum: Michigan, U.S.A.
• Navajo Refining Company, Navajo Nature Trail: New Mexico, U.S.A.
• Toyota, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia Inc.: West Virginia, U.S.A
• W.R. Grace, Baton Rouge Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Program by W.R. Grace, Albemarle & Ethyl: Louisiana, U.S.A.

Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation, this white paper features a foreword from Tracy Leung, Vice President of Environment Health and Safety, highlighting how OPG is implementing microhabitat initiatives across its operations through native pollinator gardens, wetland restoration, invasive species management, wildlife habitat enhancement, and community partnerships that support biodiversity and ecological resilience.

About Tandem Global

Tandem Global (formerly Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), provides the know-how and the network to move business and the environment forward, together. Across sectors and at all levels of its member organizations, Tandem Global works to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. It connects leading thinking with practical solutions that positively impact climate, nature, and water. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future. Tandem Global is headquartered in Bethesda, MD, USA, with locations across the U.S., in Latin America and Munich, Germany. For more information visit tandemglobal.org.

Contact media@actionagainsthunger.org for inquiries. 

 

MOGADISHU and NEW YORK, May 20, 2026 /3BL/ – Action Against Hunger is warning that the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis reveals rapidly worsening food insecurity and nutrition conditions in the country, including a credible risk of famine in Burhakaba District in Bay Region. The organization has witnessed a significant rise in admissions of severely malnourished children to its stabilization centers across Somalia and is calling for an urgent scale-up of humanitarian assistance to prevent further deterioration and save lives.

According to the updated IPC projection for April–June 2026, approximately 6 million people — nearly one in three of the population analyzed — are facing Crisis levels of hunger or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above). Nearly 1.9 million people are in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4), almost doubling in severity from the first quarter of 2025. The report also projects that 1.88 million children under five will suffer acute malnutrition in 2026, including nearly 493,000 children expected to suffer Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form of hunger.

The report identifies the Bay Agropastoral Livelihood Zone as the area with the most alarming deterioration of food security. Within this zone, Burhakaba District has reached extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition (IPC Phase 5), with a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate of 37.1 percent. Failing Gu rains, soaring food prices, and limited humanitarian food security assistance could worsen the crisis at a time when at least one out of three children in Burhakaba are already expected to be acutely malnourished.

Action Against Hunger’s program data confirms the growing malnutrition crisis, recording an average 35% increase in SAM admissions across its stabilization centers between January to March of 2025 and January to March of 2026 (from 1,796 to 2,420 cases). The increases have been particularly severe in the Bayhaw stabilization center (serving the wider Bay region), with a 54% increase, and in the Wajid stabilization center (serving the Bakool region), with a 58% increase in admissions in the same timeframe.

“What we are witnessing in Burhakaba and across the Bay region is not a future warning — it is a present emergency,” said Mohamed Abdi Haji, Acting Country Director of Action Against Hunger in Somalia. “A GAM rate of 37 percent means that in some communities, malnutrition is the norm, not the exception. Our teams are already on the ground; we currently support five of the six functional health facilities in Burhakaba district, and we are seeing the consequences of this crisis firsthand in our stabilization centers, where admissions of the most severe malnutrition cases have surged by more than half in some locations.”

Food insecurity in Somalia is being driven by a convergence of failed and delayed rains, escalating food prices exacerbated by conflict in the Middle East, internal conflict and insecurity, and displacement. Across the country, deteriorating climatic conditions continue to devastate livelihoods. The April–June Gu rainy season has performed significantly below expectations, extending drought impacts after failed rains during the 2025 Deyr season and a harsh 2026 Jilaal dry season. Livestock losses, failed crop production, shrinking incomes, and soaring fuel and food prices linked to regional instability are pushing families deeper into crisis.

Action Against Hunger is calling on the international community to mobilize support and prevent further deterioration of the food insecurity crisis in Somalia.

“Somalia has stood on the edge of famine before and pulled back — but only because the world responded in time,” said Haji. “That window is open now, and it will not remain open indefinitely.”

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Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.