We excel in cultivating learning communities, networks, collaborations, and coalitions. Our expertise lies in uniting diverse groups—both in person and virtually—to effectively address complex societal challenges through shared goals and to chart a strategic course of action.
To ensure a successful retreat, we will collaborate closely with your org to gain a deep understanding of the team’s aspirations, desired outcomes, and the overall context. This collaborative process will lead to the development of a comprehensive agenda that optimizes the available time, achieves the defined goals, and fosters a sense of fun, engagement, and connection among participants.
Following the retreat, we will conduct a thorough debrief with your org. We will provide a concise memo summarizing key learnings, actionable next steps, and, if applicable, strategic recommendations for your consideration.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
From 2021-2023, College Futures Foundation contracted us to advise and coach them and their statewide network grantee cohort. The foundation sought to increase engagement, connection, and purpose among the grantees and to quietly coach the two facilitating organizations on their facilitation, project management, and roles in the cohort. Our work resulted in the network of grantees reporting a tremendous increase in buy-in for the network. The outcomes included grantees co-designing a new governing and participation structure for the network, co-creating a new purpose for their work together, and sharing a newfound excitement and engagement level with the foundation as a partner.
We recently completed a second, large-scale evaluation project with the foundation to assess the impact of their strategy on their policy and advocacy grantees, offering them feedback throughout the project timeline.
Throughout 2023, while facilitating the five-year strategic visioning and planning process of the California Work & Family Coalition, a coalition that focuses on paid family leave, sick days, and safety days for workers throughout California, Cities & People was asked to provide bi-weekly executive coaching for the organization’s Executive Director. The coaching focused on staff management, supervision, motivation, and goal-setting, as well as organizational development, member and partner relationship-building, and change management.
