Community Connector

Helping Link Individuals, Organizations & Businesses in Lincoln County

Leslie Palotas – Your Lincoln County Community Connector

As Community Connector at EDALC, Leslie aims to listen, understand, and help create mutually beneficial solutions that make living, working, and thriving more accessible and enjoyable for all who are seeking to build community in Lincoln County.

Learn more about her work below and on the Community Connector Services Page.

If you have questions or are interested in collaborating, contact leslie@businesslincolncounty.com

What is a Community Connector?

A Community Connector (CC) helps people and organizations work together to create change that benefits everyone in a community. Success means that change lasts, grows, and adapts over time, even without the CC’s continued involvement. A Community Connector is also known as a Rural Community Builder (an approach developed by The Ford Family Foundation), Ecosystem Builder, or Network Weaver.

Community Connector Roles in Collaborative Gatherings & Projects

  • Connecting People
    • Building relationships by centering human needs
    • Weaving networks and fostering new connections
  • Connecting Solutions
    • Co-creating solutions that work for everyone, even as circumstances change
    • Bridging the gap between intentions and outcomes
  • Connecting Other Organizations and Communities
    • Learning from others’ successes and shared challenges
    • Sharing ideas that can grow and be replicated elsewhere

Community Building through an Expedition Leading Lens

Leslie gave this presentation at the 2024 Lincoln County Economic Summit. Drawing on her background as a sea kayak expedition leader, she explores how the skills used to lead expeditions (meeting people’s needs, fostering inclusion, and finding solutions that work for everyone) translate directly to building stronger communities. For a retelling of that presentation, click here!

DEQ Partnerships for Drinking Water Protection Coastal Networking Workshops

In partnership with Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts, and other community partners, Leslie co-designs Drinking Water Protection Workshops in three Oregon Coast regions. These workshops offer information, resources, and networking for anyone interested in learning about and getting involved in drinking water protection.
    • Click here to watch Leslie’s introduction to this series, including tips for a respectful, solution-focused workshop series.
    • Click here to see all past workshop presentations.
    • Click here to find more details on past and upcoming workshops.

Take Action Lincoln County

EDALC is honored to partner with The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) on takeactionlincolncounty.com, This site connects locals and visitors with land action recommendations through resources created and approved by CTSI for the public, including options to learn, follow, share, volunteer, and donate. The platform is designed as an easy-to-remember call to action for use in Land Acknowledgements recognizing CTSI.
Pictured L to R: Paul Schuytema (EDALC Executive Director), Lisa Norton (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Chief Administrative Officer), Leslie Palotas (EDALC Community Connector), Sarah Buddingh (EDALC Project Manager) and Stacie Keating (EDALC Organizational Coordinator) pose with check for CTSI Pow-Wow Sponsorships collected via takeactionlincolncounty.com.

Café Resource Multilingual Events

Café Resource events are a collaborative project with OSU Extension Lincoln County, Arcoíris Cultural, Conexión Fénix, Juntos en Colaboración Core Team,and EDALC’s Community Connector. These family-friendly events strengthen community trust and connections through presentations and resource fairs on topics chosen by community members — including Community Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Health Care, Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurial Support.

The Ford Family Foundation

The Community Connector position is funded in part by The Ford Family Foundation’s Rural Community Building Department. Learn more by visiting their website here.

We’d Love to Hear From You

We’re actively working to grow and enhance our Community Connections in Lincoln County. If you are interested in learning more about Community Connecting work, how to get involved, or would like to meet with Leslie, please contact us or sign up for our newsletter below!