Sarah Lesch

Facility Design Specialist

Sarah found her niche at the intersection of architecture, hospitality work and non-profit organizations. Before joining New Venture Advisors, she worked at one of Chicago’s largest Federally Qualified Health Centers, overseeing the design, construction and opening operations of a large community cafe and multispace conference center–creating everything from lighting plans to lunch menus. She had a hand in clinic renovations, organizational rebranding, cross-campus wayfinding overhauls, interior design and cooking the daily specials. Prior projects include hospitality and retail work in the Chicago loop, single- and multi-family housing in skyscrapers and in the suburbs, and the never-ending rehab of her family’s 1905 home. Ongoing passions include homeschooling, writing (children’s curriculum, recipes, very long emails) and thinking about what to cook next. A long-standing monthly cooking session at a local women’s shelter continues to underpin her understanding of the critical need for good food in all communities.

Sarah earned a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and enjoyed two summers of work-study in Italy. Her thesis project was the proposed design for a light-touch-on-the-earth kayaking center in the Hebrides. She loves all things water, and eagerly awaits the Lake Michigan open-water swimming season each summer. She never misses a chance to paddle board, kayak, swim or just admire water from the beach with her husband and three kids.

 

 

 

 Whatcom County Food System Plan

The Whatcom County Food System Committee recently conducted a community food assessment that pointed to key opportunities to build a more robust and resilient regional food system. New Venture Advisors will partner with Whatcom County staff and the Food System Committee to draft a Whatcom County Food System Plan that builds upon these findings. This Plan will focus on six sectors of the food system including fishing, farming, labor, food access, environment, and waste, and will be informed by an inclusive and equitable 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. (2022)

 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 school district commissary. The goal is to strengthen 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. NVA developed the business case for this ambitious project and continues to support its development. (2022)