Environmental and Climate Strategy That Endures

Insight.
Strategy.
Transformation.

Verdance helps mission-driven organizations turn climate and sustainability ambitions into community-centered strategy, action, and progress.

Our Value

How We Help Organizations Lead

Our work is grounded in interdisciplinary fluency, multistakeholder dialogue, and systems thinking — spanning metropolitan and rural sustainability, climate change, environmental justice, parks, and conservation.

01

See Clearly

Understand what's shifting, what's possible, and what matters most in complex environments.

02

Advance Justice & Equity

Ground decisions in history, lived experience, and concern for the well-being of those most affected.

03

Act Responsibly

Bring cultural awareness and deep respect for the communities and beneficiaries you serve.

04

Move Forward

Develop strategies that are high-impact, resourceful, and actionable in the real world.

What We Do

Four Ways We Bring Clarity

Cheryl Little, Principal
About

Cheryl Little, Principal

More than 25 years working at the intersections of strategy, systems thinking, narrative, and institutional change. Cheryl's multidisciplinary work spans sustainable development, equity and environmental justice, climate resilience, land revitalization, and surface transportation with experience inside federal agencies, nonprofits, and civil society.

She brings a rare combination of technical rigor and humanistic depth to strategy work. Trained in chemical engineering and international development, Cheryl understands how systems function and how people within them drive positive change.

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B.S. Chemical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (Tau Beta Pi)
M.A. International Development, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
Technical assistance to 100+ communities on health, equity and sustainability
U.S. DOT Volpe Center — Two agency excellence awards
Who We Serve

Organizations That Lead With Purpose

NonprofitsPhilanthropyPublic SectorCultural InstitutionsAcademiaSocial and Mission-Led Business Enterprises

Strategic Partner

Verdance Group collaborates with Metropolitan Group on select engagements. Metropolitan Group is a social change agency with expertise in strategic communications, intercultural engagement, and organizational strategy.

Experience And Reach

Cheryl has served a wide range of social change organizations.

American Rivers logo
Conservation Law Foundation logo
Dia Art Foundation logo
Environmental Defense Fund logo
Frontline Resource Institute
National Park Foundation logo
Outdoor Afro logo
Justice Outside logo
South Ward Environmental Alliance logo
Smithsonian Institution logo
Groundwork USA logo
National Recreation and Park Association logo
The Nature Conservancy logo
American Rivers logo
Conservation Law Foundation logo
Dia Art Foundation logo
Environmental Defense Fund logo
Frontline Resource Institute
National Park Foundation logo
Outdoor Afro logo
Justice Outside logo
South Ward Environmental Alliance logo
Smithsonian Institution logo
Groundwork USA logo
National Recreation and Park Association logo
The Nature Conservancy logo
Essays

Ideas on Sustainability, Systems, and Change

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Let's Talk

Let's talk about your organization's impact.

Whether you're exploring strategic options, seeking research support, or navigating a complex organizational shift, Verdance can bring clarity, structure, and direction. Every engagement starts with listening.

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