PURSUING WITH PURPOSE Clarifying Personal Calling and Vision 1 2 3 4 CHALLENGE The founder of Dandelion Dance Company was feeling pulled in different directions and needed clarity and perspective to quickly make important decisions she had struggled with for months. SOLUTION We created storyboards together of her calling and vision. In the process, … Read More
Author: Jennifer Shepherd
Engaging the Audience
ENGAGING THE AUDIENCE Developing a TV Show Concept 1 2 CHALLENGE A producer at Rogers Community Television was developing a concept for a new show. He needed a fun and innovative way to tell the story of what the show was about and quickly convey the personality of the show’s dynamic host. SOLUTION Living … Read More
Discovering Common Intent
DISCOVERING COMMON INTENT Creating an Ecosystem of Innovation Labs and Hubs 1 2 3 4 5 6 CHALLENGE Canada’s federal government has set an ambitious innovation agenda, and there are both emerging and established innovation labs and hubs scattered among federal departments. Leaders at Industry, Science, and Economic Development Canada saw an opportunity to … Read More
Building Strong Connections
BUILDING STRONG CONNECTIONS Promoting Wellness and Belonging in Community Housing CHALLENGE Partners in housing, health services, and community services convened a forum to build a common understanding of the role and impact of belonging and place-based collaborative approaches in supporting the well-being of communities and individuals living with mental health and addiction challenges. They saw … Read More
Engaging in Dialogue
ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE Supporting Reconciliation through the Arts 1 2 3 CHALLENGE The Canada Council for the Arts is administering {Re}conciliation – a “groundbreaking initiative which aims to promote artistic collaborations that look to the past and future for new dialogues between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada”. In its inaugural year, the three … Read More
Planning Strategic Direction
PLANNING STRATEGIC DIRECTION Supporting Healthy Communities CHALLENGE The Ottawa Community Housing Foundation was embarking on its inaugural strategic planning process. The Executive Director needed to build collective knowledge and consciousness among Board members, staff, community partners and tenants and begin to collaboratively develop a powerful vision, mission, and guiding principles for the Foundation. SOLUTION … Read More
Creating Shared Vision
CREATING SHARED VISION Preserving Watershed Health CHALLENGE The Ottawa Riverkeeper convened a summit bringing together hundreds of stakeholders from across the Ottawa River watershed for the very first time. The goal was to create a shared vision to preserve the health of the watershed and grow momentum to support a declaration. SOLUTION Collaborating with the … Read More
Understanding and Renewing Organization Culture
PLANNING STRATEGIC DIRECTION Defining Excellence at Payments Canada 1 2 CHALLENGE The Canadian Payments Association (now Payments Canada) undertook an organizational renewal process. Staff from two offices were moving into one building and they wished to cultivate a shared culture of excellence. SOLUTION Working collaboratively with an internal leader, we co-designed and co-facilitated engagement … Read More
Strengthening Partnership in Action
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION Finding Common Ground CHALLENGE The Ottawa Police Service and the Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres wished to strengthen their partnership to foster healthy, safe, and sustainable communities in Ottawa. SOLUTION We crafted reflective questions for a World Café conversation, synthesized ideas from over 75 participants in real time, … Read More
Explaining a New Business Model
EXPLAINING A NEW BUSINESS MODEL Pitching the Community Food Hub to Funders 1 2 3 4 5 6 CHALLENGE Just Food developed a viable model to address a complex food systems issue with partners. They needed to quickly explain the business model to potential funders so they could easily grasp what the new enterprise … Read More