ABOUT ARANYA SOLUTIONS
Supporting Communities To Be Self-Sustaining
Aranya Solutions specialize in creating systematic place-based solutions through participatory planning to enhance the daily lives of people. We serve as a bridge to resources and necessary infrastructure to bring meaningful livelihood, economical vitality and sustainable living.
Our method is to assist communities to implement environmentally friendly building and regenerative agricultural methods, carbon sequestration, life-skills workshops, local business development, leadership training, education initiatives, and capacity building amongst stakeholders.
Aranya Solutions collaborates with a web of partners, such as Rotary International and local partner organizations in each location to provide access to assets that bolster cultural resilience, sustainability and livelihood. We work internationally, often serving the underserved.
What Aranya Means
Aranya means “Abundant Forest” in Sanskrit. We have an ecological mindset in our approach, where we think and act like a forest ecosystem, identifying where the levers for support are needed and bring resources to fulfill the needs – pollinating like bee’s creating a web of support systems.
Our Team.
Who We Are
FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
KATRINA ZAVALNEY
Katrina Zavalney is based on the Big Island of Hawaii and is a mover and shaker where she has worked with grassroots to corporate and is passionate about community development and connecting people to resources. She is a systems thinker with a Masters in Organization Development, with over 20 years of experience she is skilled in community organizing, sustainability, producing events, strategic planning and permaculture. Katrina likes to take on impactful projects such as greening Burning Man in 2007, leading a huge grassroots movement in sustainability and inspiring the theme of the event to be the “Green Man”. She also greened Disney by writing environmental policies companywide, namely the paper policy in 2012.
In the community organizing realm Katrina was the Revitalization Coordinator for a whole town in the Mississippi Delta, Clarksdale, where she got the farmers market going again as a true community hub! Katrina earned her chops as a core member of the community building organization, City Repair, in Portland, OR since 1999 where there was a focus on localization, placemaking and neighborhood development.
Katrina founded Aranya Solutions in 2018, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to enriching the quality of life within economically challenged areas and developing systematic changes with a focus on localization, service as a bridge to resources, providing necessary infrastructure. Katrina has joined forces with Rotary International to support village livelihood programs in Nepal and Africa along with board member and dear friend Barry Cogbill.
Katrina excels in creating programs based on the needs in the community and identifying resources and partnerships to support and build out the programs, events and activities. She is a natural networker and connector, finding ways to empower other people’s passions. Katrina spent much time in Nepal, where she has been supporting village livelihood programs that focus on agriculture, leadership, economic stability and women’s empowerment.
Katrina loves to dance – anywhere, anytime, any type of dance! She teaches Zumba and mindful movement. Katrina believes in the power of living healthy and loves to do theater & improv… and likes to have FUN a whole lotta FUN! She loves to collaborate, so reach out and have fun!
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BARRY COGBILL
Barry Cogbill, International Projects Chair for the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa East in California, helps support the fundraising efforts and supplies knowledge and resources for this project.
Through his involvement in Rotary International, Barry collaborates on humanitarian based solar projects in Africa, Nepal, and now Puerto Rico.
Barry is an clean energy consultant, regarded for his solar and energy efficiency expertise, collaboration with government and industry specialists and excellence in managing and implementing clean energy projects. Barry is an energy writer, speaker and educator.
It is his priority to bring clean energy resources to Digam Village in subsequent scopes of work, utilizing the power of Rotary International’s Global Grants program.
JESSICA OLNEY
Jessica Olney specializes in community engagement in fragile contexts, particularly in Myanmar and around its borders. As a practitioner, researcher and facilitator with 15 years of field experience in South and Southeast Asia, she has led studies and written analyses on the Rohingya crisis for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Asia Foundation, and Peace Research Institute Oslo. She currently serves as Visiting Researcher at Centre for Peace and Justice, Brac University, where she designed projects for civic engagement and peace education implemented amongst host and refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar.
KARRI WINN
Karri is a thought leader, movement leader, and organization development wizard. She served as National Program Curator for Green Festivals - the leading voice promoting local green economies, social justice + sustainability (2002-2010). Where she produced 500+ presentations including NY Times best selling authors, celebrities and grassroots solutioneers. Karri also teaches Nia dance classes in Portland,OR. She connects the many aspects of her work through Body-Centered Business, creating an avenue for people to find meaning and purpose in their work.
Check out her website: www.karriwinn.com