…the First Node in a New Kind of Network
Built to last generations
The World Is at an Inflection Point
The systems that govern how we live, grow food, heal, and relate to the land are in need of deep transformation. We're co-creating a living proof of concept for what that transformation looks like in practice - starting with one place, one village campus, one founding cohort. Common Grounding is the name for what this becomes: a new way of stewarding land, resources and community.
"The future will be built through place-making."
What's taking shape
People
The founding collaboration of stewards, builders, and visionaries helping shape the first campus and the culture that grows from it.
Places
Nevada City is Node 1: a living proof of concept now in development. Two additional sites are in early exploration as the model gets tested.
Projects
The work underway right now: the Living Innovation Campus itself, and the Trust Stewards architecture built to hold and govern it.
An Organic Ecosystem of Connections
Thriving regenerative communities are sustained not only by vision, but by thoughtful structure. When stewardship, ownership, and governance are designed intentionally, communities gain the stability needed to grow and evolve across generations. Common Grounding is designing with this principle at its core, integrating two complementary layers that support both the living community and the structures that steward its assets.
Common Grounding
The culture we're building around the Living Innovation Campus AKA the human layer that will, over time, grow into a federation. Right now that means one founding node and the people actively shaping it.
- Trust indenture-based collaborative governance, built from Node 1 outward
- Shared resources and mutual support as more nodes come online
- Model tested in practice before it's replicated
Trust Stewards
The intelligent lawful, financial, and governance infrastructure that holds the land, assets, and agreements behind the network. Invisible but essential… the mycelial network beneath the soil.
- Private trust design and management
- Trust-of-trusts architecture
- Intergenerational asset stewardship
- Governance and beneficiary coordination
Why This Model Matters
This model pairs living culture with durable stewardship architecture… solving the structural problems that kill most communities before they reach their potential. Regenerative projects fail when ownership structures break, assets get captured, governance becomes chaotic, or legal complexity overwhelms people.
Village Living
Intentional neighborhoods of private homes clustered around shared common spaces - where neighbors can share meals and resources, while supporting each other across every stage of life.
Innovation Incubator
Part workshop, part laboratory, part launchpad - bringing together people, and resources to turn promising ideas into profitable projects for a regenerative future.
Gatherings & Summits
Seasonal convenings that bring the community together across locations for deep exchange and collaboration over music, art and shared learnings.
Travel Network
Future access to a growing set of member locations as new nodes come online - beginning with Nevada City. Making travel both more affordable and meaningful.
Mixed-Use Enterprise
A vibrant village center where everyday exchanges happen - nourishing food, wellness practices, events and spontaneous connection - bringing residents, visitors, and neighbors together.
Collective Capital
Novel crowdfunding and community investment models that turn shared vision into shared capacity to acquire land, launch projects, and build wealth generating regenerative infrastructure.
Meet the Team
Behind the Living Innovation Campus is a dedicated group of leaders bringing expertise from diverse fields to cultivate a thriving community.
Bimmy Dhanapala
Organizational Development Lead
Andrew Bowden
Director of Finance and Technology
Chuck Kissee
Construction Manager
Melissa Riggs
Travel Network Ambassador
Gregory Kellett
Director of Development & Innovation
Charles Durrett
Lead Architect & Master Planner
Shannon Scottfree
Hospitality & Wellness Program Curator
Cultivating a Living Innovation Campus