Advancing understanding of Amish, Mennonite, and Plain communities through cultural expertise, research, education, and collaboration.
Consulting • Training • Research • Media • Community Initiatives •
Consulting • Training • Research • Media • Community Initiatives •
Understanding culture changes outcomes.
At the Plain Culture Initiative, we help people understand what isn't immediately visible.
The cultural values. The unwritten rules. The systems of authority. The family and community dynamics. The barriers to seeking help. The traditions, beliefs, and lived experiences that shape how Amish, Mennonite, and other Plain communities interact with the world around them.
We help people understand how culture influences decisions, relationships, access to services, and interactions with outside systems—because when those dynamics are understood, people make better decisions, build stronger partnerships, and create more meaningful outcomes.
Whether you're responding to a legal case, developing public policy, providing healthcare, serving a family, conducting research, reporting a story, or building relationships within a community, cultural understanding matters.
The Plain Culture Initiative brings together consulting, professional training, research, media, and community initiatives to help organizations and professionals engage Plain communities with greater clarity, confidence, and effectiveness.
The Plain Culture Initiative is built around three interconnected areas of work that strengthen understanding, improve collaboration, and support meaningful change.
Consulting & Professional Services
We provide cultural consulting, case consultation, and subject matter expertise for professionals whose work intersects with Plain communities.
Whether you're navigating an investigation, developing policy, preparing for litigation, strengthening community partnerships, or seeking guidance on a complex issue, we provide practical insight grounded in cultural understanding.
Our services include:
Cultural consulting
Case consultation
Subject matter expertise (SME)
Institutional liaison services
Strategic guidance
Professional speaking and facilitation
Research & Community Initiatives
Our nonprofit initiatives support research, education, collaboration, and grant-funded projects that strengthen resources and improve outcomes within Plain communities.
We believe meaningful change is built through partnerships, informed research, and listening to the voices of those with lived experience.
Our initiatives include:
Community engagement
Research collaborations
Educational resources
Grant-funded programs
Public forums and events
Cross-sector partnerships
Media & Public Education
Stories have the power to shape understanding.
Through The Plain People's Podcast and other educational media, we explore the experiences, challenges, history, and resilience of Amish, Mennonite, and other Plain communities.
Our media work provides context that often extends beyond headlines, creating opportunities for deeper understanding among professionals, policymakers, community members, and the public.
Our initiatives include:
Community engagement
Research collaborations
Educational resources
Grant-funded programs
Public forums and events
Cross-sector partnerships
Who We Serve
We work alongside people and organizations committed to better understanding and serving Plain communities, including:
Government agencies
Attorneys General offices
Prosecutors and legal professionals
Law enforcement
Healthcare providers
Social workers and child welfare professionals
Nonprofit organizations
Researchers and academic institutions
Journalists and media organizations
Foundations
Community leaders
Our Approach
Our work is grounded in four guiding principles.
Understanding Before Assumptions
Every community has its own history, values, and ways of navigating the world. We believe meaningful engagement begins with listening, learning, and understanding before drawing conclusions.
Practical, Real-World Expertise
Our work combines lived experience, research, collaboration, and years of engagement with Plain communities to provide insight that is practical, relevant, and immediately applicable.
Collaboration Creates Better Outcomes
The strongest solutions emerge when communities, professionals, and organizations work together with mutual respect and shared purpose.
Turning Understanding Into Action
Knowledge has the greatest impact when it informs decisions, shapes policy, strengthens partnerships, and improves outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
some of our brand partners
Meet the Team
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Monet Goode
FOUNDER
With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience.
They set the tone for everything we do. -
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Emmett Marsh
SALES MANAGER
Focused, approachable, and driven by results, our sales manager is all about building strong relationships. They help connect people to the right solutions—with clarity and care. -
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Eleanor Parks
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience. -
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Karl Holland
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our customer service manager ensures every interaction is a positive one. They keep communication clear, timely, and human.
