About Community-Rooted
By Ashlee Cox
My Journey
I'm a social impact strategist and international development practitioner with nearly a decade of experience working across East Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Originally from Virginia, I spent seven years in Washington, D.C., managing USAID programs, work that taught me how policies on paper only succeed when they reflect the realities and voices of people on the ground.
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Those years shaped my conviction that real change is never top-down, but born from listening, building trust, and walking alongside communities.
Community-Centered Approach
Since then, I've immersed myself in cultures that have expanded my perspective and sharpened my belief in the power of local solutions. These experiences, whether working with public servants in Somalia, civil society organizations in Moldova, or grassroots organizations in Ethiopia, have shown me again and again that the most transformative programs are not imposed, but co-built in partnership.
Community-Rooted Vision
Community-Rooted is my response to this calling. It's a space where my skills in program design, facilitation, and cross-cultural collaboration meet my deep passion for supporting mission-driven teams. I work with organizations that are building more just, equitable, and sustainable systems, whether through civic leadership, women's empowerment, or community-based development.
Who I Am
At my core, I'm not only a practitioner, I'm also curious, outgoing, and driven by a love of people and places. I see myself as a citizen of the world, carrying with me stories, lessons, and friendships that fuel my belief in what's possible when communities are equipped and trusted to lead.
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Now based in Sydney, Australia, I'm building Community-Rooted as a hub for collaboration, consulting, and thought leadership. Whether it's co-developing a program strategy, leading a community engagement workshop, or producing insights on the future of social impact, my goal is the same, which is to help organizations do work that is deeply grounded, community-made, and transformative.
Values in Action
Community Leadership
I believe the people closest to the challenge hold the most important insights. My role is to support and amplify the community voice, not replace it.
Cultural Humility
Working across cultures requires constant learning, questioning assumptions, and recognizing that my perspective is just one of many.
Adaptive Thinking
Complex challenges require flexible approaches. I design strategies that can evolve with changing contexts and new learning.
Relationship-First
Sustainable impact happens through relationships. I invest time in building trust, understanding context, and maintaining connections.