About Us
We’re not here to tell you what to do. We’re here to listen, support, and help you build something that lasts.
At Community Innovation Lab, we help communities take great ideas and turn them into real, on-the-ground projects that make a difference. Whether it’s improving access to services, building stronger local networks, or testing out new ways to solve old problems, we bring the tools, experience, and energy to help get it done.
We work side-by-side with local leaders, nonprofits, small towns, and community members who know their communities best. You bring the vision—we help make it real. That might mean helping design a new program, figuring out how to use data to tell your story, or finding the right partners and resources to move things forward.
Bustling downtown Manistee, MI
Who we are
Teri Garstka and Meaghan Barnes Kennedy started Community Innovation Lab after years of working together across community, government, and nonprofit projects. They saw that lots of communities have powerful ideas. Too often, those ideas get stuck because people don’t have the time, tools, or connections to bring them to life.
Together, Teri and Meaghan have helped design and launch community-driven projects all over the country, especially in places that are under-resourced but full of energy and ideas.
Teri Garstka
Teri is a problem-solver, researcher, and systems thinker. She’s spent years building tools that help communities measure what’s working and connect services across health, education, and family support systems. She knows how to navigate complex data, policy, and tech—without losing sight of what really matters: people and impact.
Meaghan Kennedy
Meaghan is a connector and a creative force. She founded Orange Sparkle Ball, an innovation studio that helps groups take bold ideas and turn them into action. She brings experience from public health, design, and business and has a knack for helping people think differently and get moving.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!