Honoring the Legacy of Chatfield College and the Ursuline Sisters in Brown County

Dragonfly Village was born from a simple but powerful belief: that lasting transformation both personal and community-wide happens when people are given trust, opportunity, and pathways to move forward.

The story begins with Future Plans, a nonprofit, mission-driven organization committed to ending poverty one individual at a time by accelerating career pathways and connecting people to purpose-filled lives. Through The GRIT Project (Growing Rural Independence Together)—its flagship grassroots economic recovery initiative—Future Plans has worked across 32 counties in Appalachian Ohio to support communities from within.

When Future Plans arrived in Brown County in 2019, the approach was intentional: listen first. Local residents were hired and trained as career navigators and community outreach partners, and work began alongside schools, nonprofits, employers, and community leaders to respond to local needs. In just five years, the GRIT Project has supported more than 26,000 individuals across Appalachia in assessing their strengths, creating career plans, and moving toward greater stability and opportunity. High school seniors without post-graduation plans are now earning credentials, enrolling in post-secondary education, or entering the workforce, while underemployed adults and displaced workers are finding employment at higher rates than elsewhere in the region.

It was through this deeply rooted, community-first work that Future Plans built relationships with the Ursuline Sisters of Brown County and their partners at The Chatfield Edge. As The Chatfield Edge became engaged in the GRIT Project, conversations emerged about the future of their historic property and how it might continue serving the community in a meaningful and sustainable way.

With changing educational needs and declining enrollment, there was a shared recognition that the property could be thoughtfully reimagined for a new chapter of service. Through continued collaboration and shared values around stewardship, compassion, and opportunity, Future Plans was invited to help carry that vision forward.

Today, the property has been reimagined as Dragonfly Village—an evolving, multi-tenant setting designed to provide space for mission-aligned organizations, community connection, and economic opportunity. When Future Plans first began its work in Brown County, it did not anticipate becoming a steward of a former college property. But through partnership with the Ursuline Sisters and The Chatfield Edge, and a shared belief in the potential of the space, a clear path forward emerged.

While Brown County Ursuline School alumni continue to preserve the site’s history through their archive building, Dragonfly Village is being developed to welcome individuals, organizations, and partners from across the region. Through independently operated tenant spaces and community use of the grounds, the property is intended to support wellness, learning, work, and connection, meeting people where they are and evolving with community needs over time.

We are proud to steward this historic property, hire local talent, and ensure that Dragonfly Village remains rooted in its legacy while supporting future opportunities for Brown County and the surrounding region.

Dragonfly Village is expected to open in phases beginning in 2026, with the first phase focused on establishing a flexible, community-oriented environment that supports connection, collaboration, and opportunity.

Stay connected through our website for updates, announcements, and ways to engage. Together, we are honoring a legacy of service while creating space for what comes next.