OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

Every situation and challenge is unique. Custom designed engagements integrate relevant content and intentional process that effectively move individuals and systems.

CREATING SUCCESS

An appreciative approach allows the group to identify their core strengths and critical success factors. Building on a positive foundation allows the group to see challenges as opportunities.

MEETING OBJECTIVES

A relational approach that keeps a focus on tangible outcomes. The group's objectives are clearly identified and made visible in order to direct action and inform process.

Maketa is passionate about connecting people to each other and to their shared ideas. He embraces each challenge and loves supporting breakthroughs for individuals and groups.

Whatever issue may be limiting the high performance of your team, or however complex your objectives may be, Maketa can likely help.  He may not be able to "fix" every situation, be he can help any group see the opportunities and new possibilities that are available to them.  Maketa is closely connected to a diverse team of colleagues so if he can't help you, he probably knows someone who can.

Here are a few his recent client’s successes:

> Client

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> The Situation

Seattle Public Utilities was at the end of their previous planning cycle and beginning to develop a new, 5 year strategic business plan. This plan presented an opportunity to for the utility to be responsive to the current needs and concerns of community, while addressing critical trends, developing resiliency and inspiring innovation to address the future of sustainable water and waste management in the region.

> Objectives

  • Engage, inspire and inform a group of 100 organizational leaders about the innovations, trends and drivers shaping the utilities future
  • Update the utilities mission statement to better align with the work of the utility
  • Create a 25 year vision that will inspire engagement and innovation across all three lines of business
  • Strengthen trust, relationships and shared leadership among leaders from different levels of the utility

> How I helped them achieve their objective

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I worked in close though partnership with the Executive team to plan, design and graphically facilitate a series of engagements with 100 utility leaders. These engagements began with a 2-day retreat that integrated inspirational talks, high engagement dialogue and dynamic ideation processes which led to draft mission statements, the elements for a 25 year vision and updated values to inform decision-making at all levels of the utility. Through continued work over 5 weeks with internal partners, two teams of external consultants, and 2 more large group engagements, we refined these outcomes and finalize a new mission, vision and values for the utility. These powerful statements created a compelling foundation for their new strategic business plan and beyond!

Seattle Public Utilities
Mission:

We protect and enhance our health, environment, and economy
by partnering with community and customers
to manage water and waste resources
now and for future generations.

> What they said

“Maketa is a phenomenal workshop development partner, highly gifted facilitator and incredible human capable of building strong and meaningful head and heart connections between participants and their work. He is perceptive, supportive and stands strong in the quality and integrity of his work, relationships and deep commitments to issues of racial equity and environmentalism. He is truly exceptional and an absolute joy to have as part of your team”
Danielle Purnell, Senior Policy Advisor, Seattle Public Utilities

> Client

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Starbucks

> The Situation

Starbucks was launching it's new Community Store initiative which is built around a partnership with a local service organization - in the case the YWCA. As critical hub of the culturally diverse Central District community, the store at 23rd and Jackson became the point of connection with the community. Through an ongoing series of in-store dialogues the partners sought to engage the community to gain insight into opportunities for improving safety and community health and connection.

> Objectives

  • Actively engage community members in meaningful dialogue
  • Identify issues related to healthy and safety around the store and within the larger community

> How I helped them achieve their objective

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I've become a member of this corporate/non-profit/community partnership by providing graphic recording for each of the community dialogues that have been held to date including the March 2015 engagement when Howard Schultz, CEO & Chairman of Starbucks, hosted Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole and 80+ community members to discuss the safety, race, and community relations with police. Days later, Starbucks launched it's #RaceTogether campaign.

Live graphic recording at these community dialogues has increased participant engagement and provided a clear map of the dialogue to increase understanding, capture concerns and suggestions, support accountability and provide an ongoing record of the dialogue. The 4'x8' chart of each previous dialogue is posted at the current engagement to provide continuity. A digital version of each chart is distributed to key stakeholders following each dialogue. New member and store visitors are able to quickly get up to speed on the conversation so are informed and inspired to participate themselves.

> What they said

Maketa's graphic recording brought to life complex and difficult to verbalize ideas and helped to connect the discussion holistically. His ability to listen and capture what is said with accuracy and artistic graphics is impressive, inspiring, creative and reflects the collective voice. The graphic charts from the community dialogues support the concept of community voices being heard and documented visually while providing a piece of artwork with spontaneity, meaning, and expression of everyone who contributes to the conversations.
Margie Haywood, Seattle YWCA Director | Starbucks Community Store Partner

> Client

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> The Situation

A two-day convening of dialogues and panel discussions among university faculty, students and community stakeholders titled Race and Ethnicity: A Day of Discovery & Dialogue. This convening was called in response to the racial injustices that occurred in the neighboring suburb of Ferguson, Missouri.

> Objectives

  • Engage and inform the academic community on issues and topics related to race
  • Provide a platform for community voice and experience related to the events in Ferguson
  • Identify opportunities for the university to be more engaged in the social justice issues affecting the surrounding communities

> How I helped them achieve their objective

To support this client, I provided live graphic recording over the course of 25 hours of dialogue and engagement. Being positioned on the stage adjacent to the panelists, I provided an emerging graphic capture of the content and ideas that were being shared. Not only did this support the participants in the room, but was captured by cameras providing a live video stream to the overflow audience in the adjacent mezzanine and online viewers. The graphic records of the engagements rich conversations are now available on the universities website. You can view them HERE
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> What they said

We continue to receive VERY favorable feedback on your contribution to our Day of Discovery. And cannot thank you enough for taking such an active role in making the experience a success.
Jill Freidman - Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs

> Client

The Stupski Foundation

> The Situation

Design and execute a 2-day convening under some pretty extraordinary circumstances. A complex attendee group of about 100 people, consisting of high school students and adult allies from schools across six different states.

> Objectives

  • Create a student centered space that was engaging and allowed students to feel ownership and responsibility for the outcomes
  • Reflect and share past year's success to inspire and inform all groups
  • Build and strengthen youth and adult relationships across school affiliations to support ongoing work
  • Develop specific action plans to further Student Ownership of Learning within the participant's schools
  • Lay the groundwork for grant applications/grant funding that will support school implementation

> How I helped them achieve their objective

Working closely with the Stupski planning team, we designed a series of large and small group engagements that provided youth and adults space - separately and together - to share ideas and plan. Using a number of graphic templates from The Grove and a few templates that I custom designed, we made every step of this process visible. Outcomes from every engagement were captured - often by participants - and shared with the larger group. Throughout the 2-day convening attention was paid to establishing and maintaining a relational space that empowered student voice and encouraged adult allies to listen and offer guidance without taking over the process.

> What they said

Maketa did a masterful job of creating the perfect collaborative environment for all participants AND connecting with all in an incredibly authentic way. In addition, during the planning of the meeting, the organizational context changed significantly, twice, and each time Maketa rolled with the change, never panicked, and helped reframe the agenda to meet the new goals. The pacing of the event was perfect, the activities productive and energizing. I would hire Maketa for this kind of project again in a heartbeat.
Maida Brankman, Director of Curriculum & Programming

ABOUT

Maketa is a Seattle based master facilitator and highly experienced thought partner leading organizational development efforts for non-profit, government, higher education and corporate organizations.

Learn more about Maketa >

GRAPHIC CHART PORTFOLIO

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Maketa was personable and inviting. He shaped the day to best accommodate the goals of the group. He was a great facilitator for our conversations - leading but not directive. He kept us on track without squelching the creative process. Well done!

Sean Warren, Bill & Melinda Gates team member