Helping A regional planning organization redefine their role and revitalize their culture.
“The tools we learned from this experience are helping us leverage each person to their fullest - appreciating our differences and the skills we didn’t know we had.”
PlanRVA Executive Director Martha Shickle sought out ALR after being introduced to our work through an American’s For the Arts event focused on the economic impact of arts and culture on the region.
The first engagement with PlanRVA was a virtual training session in May 2020, which focused on helping them think creatively to emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion. Remarks Shickle
"I got more positive feedback from our training with ALR than anything else we’ve ever done."
Two years later, PlanRVA prepared for another major change: returning to work together in a brand new space. As part of this transition, Shickle wanted to demonstrate how bringing people together was the heart of PlanRVA’s work. Shickle approached ALR for support in transforming their culture to reflect this vision.
WHat We Did
Two all-hands workshops helped the team get reacquainted and provided opportunities for deep personal reflection, as well as exposure to new ways of working together. A 30-day Creative Sprint® challenge helped the team practice and apply the learned skills in different contexts. The engagement culminated in the creation of a large-scale artwork representing the spirit of the region and PlanRVA's goal of a sustainable future.
Unlike traditional art, this piece was hung in the new office unfinished. It featured a black-and-white outline of a view of a local environment and a rack of colorful stickers. A set of simple instructions invited participation from staff and guests to co-create a vision of the future by adding stickers to transform the panel into a vibrant to full color image.
The Impact
The impact of ALR's work has been significant for PlanRVA. The collaborative artwork has become a focal point in the new office, serving as an anchor for staff and guests to gather around and interact in creative and collaborative ways. The engagement also resulted in team members recognizing each other's talents. Shickle reflected,
“We’ve learned a lot about each other. The tools we learned from this experience are helping us leverage each person to their fullest - appreciating our differences and the skills we didn’t know we had.”
ALR helped PlanRVA’s team move through a critical transition resulting in a vivid picture of the future. This has allowed them to find valuable new perspectives on their mission and put it into action through their day-to-day culture.
“Throughout the process ALR has been encouraging, engaging, and fun to work with. We’re excited to figure out the next project to work on together!”