Grace Evans learned the importance of community during her handful of moves around Southern Alberta. From Oyen, to Vermillion, Lloydminster, Lethbridge, Okotoks, Taber, and Enchant, she’s watched many innovative business owners in the areas stick to their roots with heritage and agriculture.

It was a natural move for Evans to eventually work with a non-for-profit that supports local business owners in her role as Digital Service Squad member with Community Futures Chinook. Building websites, designing brands and logos, and offering digital knowledge and advice are a few tools she shares with her clients.

“The internet and social media are such powerful platforms to be on, especially for a business. Teaching people how to use the tools available to them to their advantage, and how to use them more effectively, is something I really enjoy,” says Evans. “It’s a matter of helping businesses, and people in general, create that positive change online.”

Evans graduated with her diploma in digital communications and media studies with a focus in media production and advertising. She specializes in photography, graphic design, and content creation.

“I find it relaxing honestly,” she says. “Being in this role, I like to remind business owners that there are resources available that shorten their to-do list. They don’t need to do everything all at once. The key is to focus on growing further and taking it step-by-step.”

Evans worked with Community Futures during her practicum in Lloydminster, and she was eager to accept the digital-focused job position when it opened up in Taber.

“A lot of people aren’t aware of how big of an impact Community Futures has on communities,” says Evans. “I like being part of the networking web of what makes a community grow and thrive — being in that puzzle of what makes different cities and towns great and working together to make a place stronger than the day before.”