NH Listens March Fellow of the Month: Courtney Wrigley
Courtney Wrigley
Hometown: North Conway, NH
Current role: NH Listens Fellow; formerly project coordinator for North Country Listens (4 years); and currently running my consulting business CJW Consulting LLC to support nonprofits and communities with meeting design and facilitation, strategic planning, and other organizational development services.
In my work with NH Listens and my consulting business, I want to contribute and help in those processes to have people's voices heard and contribute to shaping a better, more inclusive New Hampshire for the future.
Hobbies & interests: Hiking and skiing in the White Mountains, running, working on craft projects, and playing in the yard with my three kids
Favorite quote(s):
A NH Listens classic: The only cure for the confirmation bias is other people. ~ Jonathan Haidt
What drives you to be engaged in civic life?
It's a commitment to the greater community that was probably instilled in me by my mom and watching her when I was growing up in Massachusetts. These days, I see the importance in showing up, speaking up, and supporting the power that individual voices can have in shaping the direction of our communities. I think it's especially important right now that we continue making our community spaces more welcoming and encourage participation in civic life by all.
At this point in my life, I'm focused on hyper-local and how I can contribute in my own town meetings, school and planning board meetings, which is hard when you have young kids! In my work with NH Listens and my consulting business, I want to contribute and help in those processes to have people's voices heard and contribute to shaping a better, more inclusive New Hampshire for the future.
Do you remember the first time you voted and what that felt like?
I remember voting for the first time in Worcester, MA, as a college student. I can't remember what that felt like. But I do remember going with my mom to vote at the fire station when I was growing up, and going into the little booth with the curtain and some crazy machine with buttons. Now, I take my kids with me to vote in town elections in Conway, and I hope I'm passing along a similar memory and commitment to participating in civic life to them.
Courtney Wrigley is a community development professional based in North Conway, NH. Her experience is rooted in communities, organizations, and coalitions looking to create change and positive impact.
Coming from a background of municipal and regional land use planning, Courtney gravitated towards projects built on community knowledge, vision, and voice. She joined NH Listens in 2014 and dove into principles of civic engagement and deliberative democracy. She led the development of North Country Listens, a civic engagement initiative and partner of NH Listens, and designed and facilitated many community conversations in Coös County and throughout Northern New Hampshire.
Courtney has a M.A. in Community Development and Planning from Clark University in Worcester, MA.
SHARE