CAGJ launches 2019-20 Strategic Assessment & Planning Process!

CAGJ is excited to launch a year-long Strategic Planning & Assessment Process (SAPP for short) beginning now and going through next Spring.

The goal of CAGJ’s SAPP is to reinvigorate CAGJ by engaging our members in reflecting on our purpose in the food sovereignty movement and our role in the current political moment. We want our members and partners to lead in determining a vision for the future of CAGJ, our organizing strategies, and how we will transform the food system!

Our consultant: Scott Winn

Scott Winn specializes in supporting organizations to address racial and other inequities, and transforming policies and practices to achieve equity for all. CAGJ first hired Scott in 2008 for a formative planning retreat, and again in 2012 for in-depth anti-oppression work. He is a faculty member at the University of Washington School of Social Work, and previously worked for the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative. He is chair of the board for Western States Center, and co-founded Community Coalition for Environmental Justice and Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites (CARW).

Our envisioned outcomes:

  • A 1-2 year strategic “action” plan with a small number of specific goals
  • Mission/Vision:
    • A stated long-term vision
    • 5-10 year vision and set of goals
    • Renewed mission
  • Review of CAGJ’s organizational structure and work areas/programs
  • Clear organizing strategy/methodology/theory of change/principles, including roles for leadership and volunteers
  • Stated values and organizing culture description
  • Processes set up for:
    • Conflict resolution and accountability
    • Annual fundraising cycles plan and fundraising team
    • A clean database for tracking membership engagement

Member Gatherings:

We will organize three day-long gatherings throughout this process to engage members and partners in the SAPP. Our first gathering will be in September! We are considering Saturday September 21st OR Saturday September 28th. A final date, registration, and more details to come soon! In the meantime, please hold these dates if you’re able.

This is a multi-step process, and we are digging into these questions more deeply over time. We invite you to engage either by helping to shape the process, or by supporting us along the way. We are building a “Dream Team” of folks that care about the direction of CAGJ to help guide our process. Read below for a detailed description of the goals of this team and the expectations. If you are interested in joining, please fill out this google form!

DREAM TEAM

CAGJ’s goals for organizing the Dream Team:

  • Diversified perspectives on the feedback/assessment process and the future of CAGJ.
  • Support of the SAPP through giving time, ideas, energy, and care about the direction and vision of CAGJ.
  • Consistent participation, which can look like different levels of engagement, in meetings and processes with staff and consultant.

Roles & Expectations of the Dream Team:

HIGH MEDIUM LOW
  • Collaborating on creation of assessment
  • Collaborating on creation of assessment (optional)
  • Assessing and analyzing results of feedback
  • Assessing and analyzing results of feedback
  • Assessing and analyzing results of feedback
  • Join monthly meeting
  • Join monthly meeting
  • Participate in 3 in-person gatherings
  • Participate in 3 in-person gatherings
  • Participate in 3 in-person gatherings
  • Help plan the gatherings
  • Help implement outcomes/action items from meetings and gatherings

What we will provide:

  • Background on CAGJ’s history, organizing processes, and how we’ve come to our mission and vision, as well as how we have done strategic planning.
  • Food! We’ll make sure you are well-fed at all of our in-person meetings.
  • Tools and resources for SAP to stay grounded in this work and expansive in our visions.
  • Accessible meeting spaces.

What will you get out of this?

  • Deeper experience and understanding of grassroots organizational development and strategic planning with a focus on racial justice and anti-oppression
  • Relationships with activists committed to CAGJ’s work and other intersections of social justice movements
  • Opportunity to work with a longtime leader in anti-racist organizing and assessment, Scott Winn
  • Contribution to the next chapters of CAGJ and the outcomes of this process!

Will you join us? If you’re all in and ready to say yes, or you’re considering, please fill out this google form to let us know how you want to engage! If you’re considering but want to talk about it with us first, please email us to let us know and we’ll set up a time to talk. We really want to work with you in a way that fits with your capacity and brings your skills and experiences into this process.

 

Thank you!

 

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One Comment

  1. Want to stay engaged want to talk about that engagement. Lately given the disfunction of political parties, and the presence of misinformation, organizations like ours will be the instrument of change. I am interested In Getting better grounded in collectives and I believe it is important to build coalitions with other organizations. Personally, I am planning some time away from Seattle but thro technology I think I can attend meetings and stay informed.

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