New Pioneers’ Board of Directors is excited to announce the appointment of Julia Gerwe as permanent Executive Director of our organization, following four months of her serving in the role of Interim Executive Director. Julia’s leadership, wisdom, and enthusiasm thus far have impressed our Board, staff, members, and organizational partners, and we look toward a new, exciting chapter ahead under Julia’s continued leadership.

Julia began working as our Interim Executive Director in June 2023, and has made great strides in strengthening and clarifying internal structures and capacities, leading programming, and guiding an incredibly successful membership renewal process. Most importantly of all, Julia has deepened relationships within our tri-county focus area including Marion, Nelson, and Washington counties.

“It has been a dream to work with our local communities alongside New Pioneers thus far,” Julia says, “I look forward to deepening our local connections and growing our organization as the voice for sustainability in the area.”

As a former New Pioneers community partner, volunteer, and Board member, Julia celebrates the work that New Pioneers has done over the past 17 years, and looks forward to bridging the organization’s growth into the future.

“I have known Julia personally for several years now, and I am deeply grateful that her warmth, creativity, and dedication will now be directed to New Pioneers’ efforts,” Jessie Rathburn, Board President, says, “Julia is a staunch supporter of rural community life, a creative collaborator, and a skilled educator, as well as just being a delightful person to know.”

Our Board of Directors are grateful for Julia’s leadership as the organization navigated this leadership transition, in which she provided responsive, service-oriented leadership to vision New Pioneers’ future in line with our new strategic plan.

In the near future, we’re planning for a “soft release” of this latest strategic plan later this month, and we look forward to an official rollout in early 2024. This plan will guide our local and statewide partnerships to come, including local programs for community members to engage with the topic of sustainability. We can’t wait for you to join us!