3. About IRIS

The Initiative for Rural Innovation & Stewardship (IRIS) is a non-profit organization that fosters sustainable rural communities in North Central Washington by gathering and sharing success stories that enhance a sense of belonging, inspire action, and build community. We believe that thriving communities in a healthy environment create success.

IRIS gathers stories that focus on acts of good stewardship that contribute to long-term sustainability of the rural communities and landscapes of North Central Washington. Our organization and programs have been designed to be replicated at a regional scale.

Each year IRIS takes a “slice of the pie” of what’s working in NCW and in the host community through the NCW Community Success Summit. Photo from 2013 summit in Okanogan, Small Town, Strong Community.

In all IRIS programs we work to highlight principles of stewardship and sustainability by gathering stories about past and present practices that maintain and enhance our environment, community, and economy - stories of diverse people adapting, learning, and cooperating. And stories from old-timers and newcomers alike that show how the acts of appreciating, enhancing, and hoping shape our future.

We have found that self-reliance, inventiveness, and building on the good work of others are cornerstones of many of these stories along with big-picture thinking, saving all the parts, and considering interactions.

See also

2009 Gathering Our Voice Sustainability Brief and the video, Sustaining Success: Stewardship Stories from NCW.

To learn more about IRIS History visit the About page at https://irisncw.org/about/.