Inclusive Meetings

Designing Stakeholder Alignment in Nonprofits with Liberating Structures

In today’s complex nonprofit landscape, achieving alignment among diverse stakeholders—executive directors, board members, staff, volunteers, donors, and the people served—is both essential and elusive. Traditional planning methods often reinforce hierarchy and silence key voices. At Civic Reinventions, Inc., we champion a different approach: Liberating Structures, a suite of participatory methods that unlock collective wisdom, foster deep alignment, and transform strategic planning into a shared experience.

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Inclusive and Engaging Transportation Planning in Rural Yakima County: A Human-Centered Approach

Access to reliable transportation is a fundamental necessity for individuals and families striving to rebuild their lives. In rural Yakima County, WA and across Yakama Nation lands, approximately 200 households face significant transportation barriers. These families, deeply engaged in the child welfare system and dependency courts, need reliable transportation to attend hearings, meet with judges and attorneys, access social workers, mental health providers, and support groups. Additionally, stable transportation is critical for maintaining employment and ensuring family reunification efforts proceed smoothly. However, because these individuals have been convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI), they lack driver's licenses and struggle to navigate the sprawling rural landscape where traditional transportation options fall short. Conventional transportation planning often prioritizes efficiency over lived experiences. To develop meaningful solutions, we must embrace human-centered design principles—listening directly to these families to craft transportation options that genuinely meet their needs.

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Achieving Strategic Alignment in Nonprofits Through Liberating Structures

Nonprofit organizations navigate complex environments where diverse stakeholders—including executive leadership, board members, frontline employees, funders, and community representatives—must work together toward a shared vision. Strategic alignment is critical for mission success, yet achieving it often proves elusive due to competing priorities, hierarchical barriers, and entrenched ways of thinking. Liberating Structures offer a transformative approach to breaking these barriers by fostering inclusion, engagement, and clarity. These structured yet flexible facilitation techniques empower organizations to harness the collective wisdom of all stakeholders, unlocking innovative solutions while forging deep alignment.

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Revitalizing Meetings: From Disengagement to Innovation with Liberating Structures

By shifting from traditional meeting designs to Liberating Structures, organizations can unlock the full potential of their teams. These methods ensure that every voice is heard, every idea is valued, and every meeting becomes a springboard for creativity and innovation. It's time to breathe new life into our meetings and harness the collective intelligence of our groups.

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