Julia Larouche

Research Associate

 

Julia is trained as an environmental scientist, specializing in water resources. Prior to joining New Venture Advisors, she spent nearly a decade in academia studying how climate change impacts water quality and carbon dynamics in arctic streams in Alaska. She also taught Environmental Systems and Societies as part of the International Baccalaureate program at The Montessori High School in northeast Ohio.

Julia has a strong interest in sustainable food systems from various perspectives ranging from climate change to social justice to community development.

Julia is a Massachusetts native and holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont and a B.A. in Chemistry from Assumption College.

She currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband and two young sons.

 

 

 

 Whatcom County Food System Plan

In 2021, the Whatcom County Food System Committee conducted a community food assessment that pointed to key opportunities to build a more robust and resilient regional food system. New Venture Advisors partnered with Whatcom County staff and the Food System Committee to draft a Whatcom County Food System Plan that builds upon these findings. This Plan focuses on five key goals for building a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient food system, and was informed by an inclusive community engagement process. The Food System Plan will provide the county with a policy roadmap that will strengthen the local food system for years to come. (2023)

 Whatcom Local Food Campus

The Whatcom Community Foundation invests in activities and organizations that improve the ability of people to help themselves, increase connections among people, and take cooperative approaches to community issues. WCF is exploring the development of a local food campus on a waterfront property that would become a multi-tenant site, anchored by a collaborative production kitchen benefitting food access, school system, and community organizations. The goal is strengthening Whatcom County’s local food system by promoting health equity, forging tangible strategic connections between food production organizations, and helping farmers connect with institutional markets. The facility will also feature an incubation kitchen, demonstration kitchen, event and classroom space, collaborative office and conference facilities, and housing.  New Venture Advisors developed the business case for this ambitious project and continues to support its development through engagement and operational development. (2023)