The Team
Groundwork is the result of our combined three decades on-the-ground leading programs, organizations, and networks, as well as supporting nonprofit boards and collective impact groups. We've created first-of-their-kind programs, developed models that have led to game-changing results, facilitated a broad array of systems change efforts, challenged the status quo, and lost our minds and found them again along the way.
These experiences led to an appreciation that good ideas and good work grow because the basics have been well tended (and that often has to do with how individuals show up). To grow more good, Groundwork takes a first things first approach, and we always begin with relationships.
Joe Herrity
Strategies & Structures
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeherrity/
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Top 5 Clifton Strengths:
Strategic / Activator / Input / Learner / Individualization
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Courtney Portal
Practice & Implementation
https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyportal/
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Top 5 Clifton Strengths:
Restorative / Input / Adaptability / Connectedness / Intellection
First Things First
OUR FRAMEWORK FOR ENGAGEMENT
We aim to live and work from a values-based perspective. We think about the collective capacities of teams, not individual leaders. To that end, we aim to work with organizations and initiatives that share these priorities:
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Governance that is inclusive and structured to share power
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Management that provides equitable support across all levels and within groups
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Organizational learning capacity that is continuous, generative, and not extractive
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Culture that is inclusive, strengths-based, and fosters belonging
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When we partner with organizations we begin with relationship building and roughly align our approach to the Appreciative Inquiry 4-D approach of discovery, dream, design, destiny. Our general process is as follows:
1 // Begin with relationships
We begin with relationships and we endeavor to be "right relationship" with all those whom we work with. because all work is relational and the people who do the work have plenty of wisdom and illuminating wonders.
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2 // Listen to the data
To phase one human data we add other forms of data, through review and/or creation, to help us appreciate context and complexity while searching for the signal. We do this through review of existing materials, creation of surveys, and hosting of focus groups.
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3 // Focus on solutions
With qualitative and quantitative data in hand we move to identify solutions. This can include designing new programs, assembling a strategic plan, creating a beneficiary listening campaign, or engaging in board development. Whatever the shape of the result, we use a generative and interactive process to find creative solutions, with an eye toward feasibility and viability.
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4 // Collaborate to get things done.
Finally, with a clear sense for context and a defined purpose, we collaborate to get things done, always remaining respectful of capabilities and capacities.
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In service of the above, we think that getting a few basics right opens the door to high impact work. In our view, this generally has to do with data, design, and doing.
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Operational Data - Do the right people have the right information at the right time?
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Inclusive Design - Have solutions or processes been designed with the right data at hand and the right stakeholders at the table? Are there cycles and methods to continually refresh and refine designs?
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Capacity for Doing - Do you have the human bandwidth necessary to execute?​