Community Conversations move you beyond meetings-as-usual:
Whether it’s two people or 2,000 people, Community Conversations unleash latent energy and actionable possibilities for your desired future through Keyring Consulting’s inception - instigation - insight process flow.
Community Conversations support human connection and a clear way forward. You go beyond polarization or false harmony. Together, you make sense about your current context and desired future while thoughtfully addressing power dynamics present in the room.
Community Conversations support human connection and a clear way forward. You go beyond polarization or false harmony. Together, you make sense about your current context and desired future while thoughtfully addressing power dynamics present in the room.
Real World Examples
Building a New Church
“We've discovered that there's a spirit of conversation, listening, and common purpose that is remarkable given our conflicted history. We together are owning the articulation of who we are and who we’re becoming.”
- Community Conversation participant
A 150-year-old urban congregation and its leaders were facing the end of life for two buildings, under-utilized spaces on its campus, and fears about raising funds. A previous start to planning led to conflict, and they needed to find a new way forward.
Community Conversations among congregants created clear consensus around a “community design brief” for architects and leaders that guides volunteerism and fundraising for new campus planning and building.
DEBA-Centered Vision
“Small groups, pairs, and a focus on finding the most powerful ideas created a result I wasn’t sure was possible.”
- Community Conversation participant
Board members and staff leadership of a community arts organization responded to the uprisings in 2020 with a bold commitment to Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Access (DEBA). However, the staff and board were confused about how to operationalize these values. They shied away from frank conversation about DEBA required to live up to their commitments. Furthermore, the organization’s vision was outdated and did not include DEBA even as they were about to launch a high-stakes capital campaign.
Through a day-long, engaging Community Conversation, the Board arrived at a new, bold vision and mission for the future that centered DEBA and provided the foundation for their fundraising campaign. Sarah Lightfoot (a white woman) and consulting partner Myisha T. Hill (a Black woman) modeled frank conversation across differences and guided members to speak candidly about DEBA to support fulfilling their stated commitments. They achieved a new level of confidence to speak to donors about their values and empower everyone to live into DEBA values with greater integrity.
DEBA-Centered Vision
“Witnessing the frankness between Myisha and Sarah supported us to elevate our conversation to greater authenticity as we built our DEBA-centered vision.”
- Community Conversation participant
Faculty and staff of a nationally-renowned public University struggled to navigate unequal power and greater heterogeneity in their workplaces and classrooms. Reports of lack of attunement to power differential between community members abounded. Fear and a lack of a unifying vision to translate values into everyday work interactions made it difficult for them to move forward with their DEI aspirations. Anti-oppression educator and healer Myisha T. Hill brought Keyring Consulting in to partner on this project.
Through Community Conversations, participants drafted a unifying vision for a Community of Care and learned non-violent communication skills to improve relationships with colleagues and students. Sarah Lightfoot (a white woman) and consulting partner Myisha T. Hill (a Black woman) modeled frank conversation across differences. Step by step, they guided participants to practice frank conversations to navigate difference in perspectives and power with greater skill.
The Types
The Elements
Stories of Inspiration
The Outputs
Roadmaps: Initiative Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement
DEI Change
Get help with facilitating outcome-focused events with real-time technology feedback to help your organization and community move forward – together
Exployee input for recruitment & retention
Retreats
Community & Organiztion Change & Strategic Planning
Upgrading community culture from top-down governance to emergence
Book a consultation today with Sarah, a seasoned straight shooter, and find how to identify your organization’s potential next steps in as little as one phone call.
“With Sarah creating retreats and adaptive roadmaps, I have a pathway to tangible results that involves the right people at the right time at the right level. Now, everybody is buying in and ready to invest themselves fully into our future.”
Lara Hermanson
Partner, Farmscape
“With Sarah creating retreats and adaptive roadmaps, I have a pathway to tangible results that involves the right people at the right time at the right level. Now, everybody is buying in and ready to invest themselves fully into our future.”
Lara Hermanson
Partner, Farmscape
“With Sarah creating retreats and adaptive roadmaps, I have a pathway to tangible results that involves the right people at the right time at the right level. Now, everybody is buying in and ready to invest themselves fully into our future.”
Lara Hermanson
Partner, Farmscape
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