Here are a few examples of projects we have conducted.  Browse the page and call or email for more information.  Links to selected websites are provided for your convenience, and resource-links for your exploration.

Local government

City of Seattle – Community Voices
Convened a team of bi-cultural and bi-lingual colleagues to gather input across major city service departments from Immigrant and Refugee communities, about their experiences with direct city services and policies.  We conducted over 100 interviews and 10 focus groups – in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Amharic, Oromo and Somali.  Summary report was presented to the City of Seattle City Council and a broad city Interdepartmental Team.  

City of Kent - Feasibility Study, One Stop Human Services Center
Conducted national research for models and facilitated a community collaborative process to design programming options for a One-Stop Center, including partnerships across service sectors and cultural groups.  My team included an architect who researched and evaluated possible sites, created building designs fitting the program design options.  The final product report included full project feasibility, including potential property sites, building costs, building and program designs, funding options and budget estimates.

City of Kent - Comprehensive 5-Year Human Services Plan
Gathered and analyzed data, conducted community input sessions, identified city council priorities and drafted policies and strategies for Human Services and Housing departments.   Presented draft plan for City Council adoption.

Community-wide systems change initiatives

Health Funders Partnership of Orange County, California
A Call to Action: Fresh Ideas on Food and Fitness for Orange County Kids
Assisted with design and co-facilitated a future search sponsored by major California foundations to address issues of child obesity in Orange County.  Addressed systemic issues including food in schools and food availability in low income neighborhoods, exercise and health promotion, and new models of philanthropy emerged that support community activism.

Mason County Economic Development Council, Mason County, Wash.
Economic Summit: Creating the Economic Future of Mason County
Co-designed and co-facilitated a community planning process in rural Washington sponsored by local government and Chamber of Commerce.  Addressed issues of rural development and built new bridges between business development groups, tourism industry and environmental advocates.  

Strategic Planning

Real Change, Seattle
Designed and implemented a strategic planning process for Real Change newspaper.  We used Appreciative Inquiry, focus groups with vendors and readers, and conducted intensive process with the Board and staff to complete a full 3-year strategic plan.  Real Change grew to weekly publication, expanded vendors, grew its support base and had many other dynamic successes, due in part to the broad enthusiasm and focus generated by the strategic plan process.

Tierra Learning Center, Leavenworth Washington
Facilitated 2-day planning process in collaboration with an architect.  Designed programming and land use priorities, community engagement strategies, and long-term sustainability.  Architect created building and and land use design options.

Eastside Human Services Alliance
Conducted process to gather community feedback on Alliance image, roles and strategies from stakeholders.  Designed and facilitated Board and membership planning sessions to "take the Alliance to the next level" in terms of advocacy, membership and community visibility.

International work 

Koinonia Community, Nairobi Kenya
 
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Paris France

The Big Issue South Africa, Cape Town South Africa

The Big Issue Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia

Future Search:  Watch this 30-minute interview with the creators of the future search methodology, Marv Weisbord and Sandra Janoff.  Paste the following into your web browser -

http://vimeo.com/9582760