Japanese Community Youth Council
Overview
Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC) is a 40-year old organization serving over 8,000 children and youth annually from all ethnic backgrounds in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over the past five years, the staff doubled in size to over 100 people. With such rapid expansion, the leadership was concerned that the organization was losing touch with its founding principles and values. JCYC approached Kevin to develop and integrate a values-based philosophy and approach throughout the organization that both reflected the historical roots and current culture and needs of the communities they serve.
Solution
Kevin first worked with the board and staff to develop an organizational values statement. He then met with each of the ten programs to see how these values were currently reflected in their day-to-day activities, as well as brainstorm how the values can be further integrated. He worked closely with the board and management to insure that the organization’s policies and practices reflect the values. Finally, he formed cross-functional teams focused on each of the six values to develop activities and campaigns to integrate the values throughout the organization.
Outcome
After two years, JCYC board and staff have fully embraced and integrated their values. Upon entering their new facility, each of their values is proudly displayed on posters in their foyer. The cross-functional teams have mounted activities and campaigns such as: developing a comprehensive composting and recycling program (promoting integrity); creating mentorships between their programs serving older youth and the preschools (promoting community); and coordinating organization-wide food and clothing drives (promoting compassion). Staff evaluations now have a values-based review component, and the organization now only purchases from socially responsible vendors.
~ Jon Osaki – Executive Director ~ Japanese Community Youth Council
www.jcyc.org
Center for Diversity and the Environment
Overview
Based in Portland, OR, the mission of The Center for Diversity & the Environment (CDE) is to racially and ethnically diversify the U.S. environmental movement by developing leaders, diversifying institutions, and building community. As a new organization, CDE wanted to first expand awareness among the mainstream environmental/ conservation groups and the largely minority-run social justice/ environmental justice groups, with the hopes of building greater understanding and partnerships.
Solution
Kevin worked closely with the board and staff to design a series of three community forums to provide participants a space to learn, grow, build relationships, and to organically find solutions to their specific diversity issues. Because there had been some historical challenges between the environmental conservation groups and the environmental justice groups, the forums had to be carefully crafted and facilitated.
The first forum challenged assumptions and moved participants toward a deeper understanding of diversity; the second forum allowed the people of color to redefine terms largely used by the environmental movement in order to talk about the issues with their own communities; and the third forum focused on building partnerships.
Outcome
Over 200 environmental and social justice leaders participated in the forums representing over 100 institutions including: The Trust for Public Land; REI; African American Outdoor Association; and the Farm Worker’s Ministry. In a follow-up survey, all of the participants reported taking some type of action toward diversity and inclusion within their organizations. The Environmental Professionals of Color network doubled to over 100 members, and unlikely partnerships were developed as a result of the relationships built among communities of color and the environmental community. The Center for Diversity and the Environment secured additional funding and has firmly established itself as a major and respected player in the movement.
Michelle Emmons, REI
www.environmentaldiversity.org
Frog’s Leap Winery
Overview
Frog’s Leap Winery (FLW) is known for producing some of Napa Valley’s finest wine. Founded by John Williams in 1981, the business grew steadily over the next twenty years to employ over fifty people. With their motto, “Time’s fun when you’re having flies,” Frog’s Leap developed a reputation for being a fun, relaxed and rather irreverent place to work and visit. Mr. Williams wanted to maintain this culture and reputation while also growing beyond a small family business model and assuring that Frog’s Leap is viewed as a reputable business that produces refined and sophisticated wines.
Solution
Kevin conducted focus groups in both English and Spanish to ascertain what makes FLW stand out among other wineries in Napa Valley. He worked with a subcommittee of staff and management to create their Statement of Purpose. Then he utilized his Working in the Hyphen organizational model to retain their more inclusive and democratic business style while allowing for formalized systems and processes to develop in order to accommodate the needs of the growing organization.
Outcome
The staff and board found a sense of grounding and unification around the statement of purpose. It is proudly featured in both English and Spanish throughout the organization and its promotional materials. The management team restructured utilizing an assets-based model as well as a more inclusive evaluation and decision-making process. While FLW still maintains its fun and casual environment, its business model and processes have adopted a level of functionality and efficiencies that are still aligned with its organizational culture.
"Kevin immediately impressed us as being highly perceptive about the challenges we faced, as well as experienced in working with diverse communities; his combination of professional skills combined with his engaging personal manner enabled us to clearly articulate our unique purpose, vision and direction in the industry."
~ John Williams, Owner ~
Frog’s Leap Winery
ZeroDivide
Overview
Since its inception in 1998, ZeroDivide, a community technology foundation based in San Francisco, has invested more than $45 million in primarily underserved communities in California. One of the signature initiatives of the foundation is the ZeroDivide Fellowship. The intended goals of the fellowship were to: build a community technology movement and cultivate a network of diverse community leaders that benefits and improves the quality of life for underserved communities. ZeroDivide asked Kevin to serve as the lead consultant for the Fellowship program.
Solution
Kevin worked with the staff to design a three-year fellowship program that consisted of four intensive seminars, a strategic impact project, and a mentoring component. He was also personally involved in the selection of the fellows. Often referred to as “the glue” of the program, Kevin acted as lead facilitator throughout the orientation sessions, each of the intensive seminars and the graduation sessions for all three ZeroDivide classes, a period spanning from 2002-2010.
Outcome
Altogether, 45 outstanding community leaders completed the ZeroDivide Fellowship, continuing to do good work in their communities and maintain close working relationships and friendships with each other. A number of fellows and their programs have been recognized both statewide and nationally. Tessie Guillermo, CEO of ZeroDivide states, “The ZeroDivide Fellowship is at the heart of our mission to effect social change in our communities. We are proud of the ZFellows and are excited to support this network of advocates as they work to advance our Foundation’s mission to achieve a ZeroDivide – socially, economically, and culturally.”
~ Leonard “Mac” McNeil ~ Mayor of San Pablo, CA, ZeroDivide Fellow – Class I
www.zerodivide.org/initiatives/leadership