Our Story
The Village Project was born in the summer of 2025 from a simple yet powerful vision. Local resident Marlene Bottenfield received the insight that Nevada County could become a model for leading with heart - a place where people come together in genuine connection, care, and shared purpose to support one another and meet collective needs.
Inspired by this vision, a group of friends gathered for a series of heartfelt conversations. From these early meetings, a committed leadership team emerged. Jane Calbreath, Marilyn Nyborg, and Carolyn Anderson stepped forward to help ground the vision, shape the mission, and design the offerings of what became The Village Project, Nevada County. Together, they developed the foundational agreements and guiding principles that continue to support the work today.
As the circle deepened its exploration, Carolyn and Jane began receiving a series of essays from Richard Flyer, author of Birthing the Symbiotic Age. Reflecting on his work developing community networks in Reno in the early 2000s, Richard described what he called “a timeless framework for bringing people together.”
Carolyn had first met Richard during his work with the Conscious Community Network in northern Nevada, and she reached out to him again. His insights affirmed that what was emerging in Nevada County was part of something larger and more universal: a growing movement toward connection, cooperation, and shared purpose at the local level.
The Village Project officially launched in January 2026 with a World Café gathering, where 35 residents came together to explore how to cultivate a culture of connection in Nevada County. Through meaningful conversation, shared reflection, and a spirit of openness, the seeds of a more connected community were planted - seeds that continue to grow today.
Our Culture
We are an inclusive community, doing our best to lead with the heart. We honor each person’s voice, experience, and perspective.
We value honest, direct, kind, non-violent communication to explore and learn from misunderstandings. We allow the Project to grow organically, and we co-create with one another with compassion and joy.
We aim to transform a Culture of Separation into a Culture of Connection.
The Village Stewards
Marilyn Nyborg was a successful business owner and high-tech recruiter in Silicon Valley and the co-founder of Gather the Women. She is a master networker with 50 years of connections in women’s leadership and women’s circles. Author of A Woman’s Guide to Sacred Activism, she developed an international network to restore feminine wisdom and values. Marilyn is committed to creating change in cultural values, personal choices, and policies that shift humanity’s consciousness from separation and domination to integration and unity.
Jane Calbreath is a facilitative, intuitive leader shaped by growing up across three continents and a lifelong curiosity about culture and travel. With a background in organizational development and psychology, she has led mission-driven projects with clarity and purpose. A mother of three entrepreneurial sons, she values independence and collaboration. She draws on astrology, Tarot, and natural cycles, and focuses on building community, supporting growth, and meaningful impact.
Carolyn Anderson has spent much of her life helping people come together in love, trust, and cooperation. In 1986 she co-founded Global Family, which inspired the formation of hundreds of small Core Groups around the world dedicated to connection and shared creativity. She co-founded Hummingbird Community in New Mexico and co-authored The Co-Creator’s Handbook 2.0. Today, Carolyn brings this same spirit of love, respect, and connection to The Village Project. She lives with her husband, Sanford, at Lake Wildwood.
© 2026 Made with ♡ for Nevada County