Rachel K. Hatch joins The McConnell Foundation as a new program officer, with experience in community building, and eager to work in the area of community vitality. The Foundation identified participating in the revitalization of downtown Redding as its first priority for this position. Hatch begins her work at the Foundation on May 22, 2017.
Since 2008, Hatch has been working as a research director for the Institute for the Future, based in Palo Alto. As Research Director, she has leveraged foresight to help companies, government groups and philanthropic organizations to focus on trends and disruptions that are likely to influence communities in the next decade.
Raised in Iowa, Hatch is a graduate of St. Olaf College, Trinity College Dublin and Yale Divinity School. She and her husband, Aaron, moved to Redding six years ago. She has played a key role in TEDxRedding, Catalyst Redding Young Professionals, the Redding Fashion Alliance, the Women’s Fund, programming to emphasize the Power of Place, and numerous other community contributions.
Hatch’s new position will complement other Foundation staff working in children, youth and education; sustainable/livable communities; scholarships; and Laos, Nepal, and Yosemite programs. The Foundation’s mission is to help build better communities through philanthropy, and community vitality is at the heart of that mission. The Foundation board of directors recently identified revitalization of downtown Redding as a focus for the next decade.
“Our board believes that we have the unique ability to be a part of cultural and systemic change. We have stick-to-itiveness as demonstrated by our commitment to Lema Ranch, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, the Sundial Bridge, Redding School of the Arts, and 30 years of grant making in the north state. In addition to the built environment, we recognize the essential value of social infrastructure. Rachel’s hire is part of our commitment to partner in downtown Redding thoughtfully,” said John Mancasola, president and CEO.
