Funding Futures:

Rooted in Rochester

Led by Heather Eckhardt and a core team of volunteers, Judith Karpova and Faye Forman

Photos by Luca Pearl Khosrova

In the winter of 2025/2026, Rooted in Rochester hosted a number of events, one of which you see here at Rough Cut Brewery.

Participants were invited to add an idea for their town and drop it into the basket.
Prompts were provided to spark ideas.
Good food was served.
It was a family friendly event.
Folks could review ideas that the team had compiled from their listening campaign and survey.
Heather gave an introduction about the program.
People got on the mic to share their ideas.

Next, the team will put the ideas on a ballot and get out the vote, community-wide!

The results of the vote will be revealed in the spring. Then the real work begins: making a plan and organizing volunteers and funding.

Check the Rooted In Rochester website for details.

Heather Eckardt

ROCHESTER
Rooted in Rochester
Heather Eckardt has been a resident of Kerhonkson since 2011 and brings a thoughtful, values-driven approach to environmental and community concerns. Her professional experience includes roles at the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, Ulster Community College Foundation, Scenic Hudson, and Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, where she supported mission-aligned initiatives and fostered community engagement. She holds a degree in Agricultural Science from Oregon State University and has pursued graduate studies in sustainability, environmental leadership and communication, deepening her commitment to a more sustainable and connected world.