Post Collaboration Reflections

Cause Collaborative 2017

Thanks for Collaborating With Us!

Cause Collaborative 2017 has been a monumental year in the event’s history and it’s all thanks to the support from some pretty incredible speakers, sponsors, collaboration team members, and of course, everyone who attended! Thank you for being a part of this experience and helping this event grow.

2017 Milestones

• First year with a specific focus toward the arts sector (#artunites us)
  First year in which a full collaboration team of volunteers helped plan and facilitate the event
• Most sessions that have ever been scheduled for the day
• First year in which breakout sessions were available
• Largest amount of first-time attendees in history
• Most diverse array of speakers and guests in attendance
• Most sponsorships the event has EVER had
• Most badass raffle!

2017 Highlights

Opening Keynote

After indulging in delicious, fresh roasted coffee and pastries from friends at Brioso Coffee for breakfast, Emcee, Troy Anthony Harris was ecstatic to introduce Ruby Lopez Harper, Director of Local Arts Services at Americans for the Arts officially opened the day with the first Keynote session: It’s Not You, It’s Me–Understanding the National Stage. Ruby explained how important it is for statewide groups to understand what is happening nationwide and how it affects us locally by sharing her own story of professional growth from working at the local level in theatre and the Greater Columbus Arts Council, to the national level in her current role with Americans for the Arts. She closed her session with a three part prompt for the audience to ponder: I can imagine ___________ I wonder if ___________ I will ___________.

“As the federal funding landscape changes, organizations at the local level need to be able to adapt to that change within the community” — Ruby Lopez Harper

Board Development Workshop

Following Ruby’s discussion, guests headed upstairs for an interactive plenary workshop session sponsored by United Way of Central Ohio Neighborhood Partnership Center. Consultant, Christie Vargo, arranged the audience into small groups as she proposed a series of board roles for the groups to determine ;Whose role is it, the board, or the CEO?; Following the exercise, Christie reviewed what major considerations one must take into account when asked to join a board, in addition to the importance of understanding and maintaining the nonprofit’s bylaws.

“Whose role is it — Board or CEO?” — Christie Vargo

Breakout sessions

After lunch, guests split up to participate in one of two interactive breakout sessions: Building Leaders from Where You Are leadership development with Jamison Pack, Chief Marketing Officer with the Ohio History Connection, and Grow Your Fundraising panel, facilitated by Christy Farnbaugh of the Ohio Arts Council.

Jamison began her session by sharing an overview of different leadership styles, then led an interactive dots; exercise in which participants prioritized several leadership traits. She closed her session after a review of what she had identified as top 10 tips for leading today.

“Leadership is a choice that you make and an intentional practice” — Jamison Pack

Meanwhile, Christy led the panel discussion with Mark Cardwell, founder of Ready LLC, Diane Cattran, Grant Writer with DC Grants, and Julie Harrison, Development Coordinator at the Wexner Center for the Arts, by taking an in depth look at each part of a nonprofit’s operating budget. The group emphasised the importance of maintaining traditional funding through grants, yet encouraged guests to leverage more innovative solutions as well, such as establishing strategic pARTnerships with other organizations (big and small, nonprofit and for profit)

“The biggest area of growth most don’t realize, is individual giving” — Diane Cattran

Afternoon Keynote

After a healthy and delicious lunch from Freedom A La Cart, compliments of the Greater Columbus Arts Council, diversity trainers James White and Daniel Houston took the stage for the afternoon keynote. Their session, A Better World: Growing in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, was based off of the book they had co authored with Les Helms, A Better World: A Framework for Diversity, Equity and Engagement. Jim and Dan began by giving a brief overview of the context of the book, written through the non bias perception of a computer having a conversation with humans for how to successfully understand, appreciate, and coach within the cultural engagement process. Guests in this session really opened up by sharing their own personal stories of struggle with diversity, and were full of questions! The session successfully provided a safe, open environment where people could freely discuss a controversial topic that is currently plaguing our society.

“We need to connect with one another, and it starts with a handshake” — Jim White

Closing Keynote

Dr. Melanie Corn, President of Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) pointed guests in the right direction toward success in her closing keynote, Strategies for Success. Melanie shared the process she used to set the vision and tone for CCAD in the colleges 2017 strategic plan, how she successfully shared that vision among stakeholders to receive buy-in, and the metrics of success to measure the plan’s implementation that began last fall.

“Three key reasons you need a strategic plan: 1. Communication 2. Credibility 3. Prioritization” — Dr. Melanie Corn

Happy Hour

Following the closing keynote, emcee, Troy Anthony Harris, raffled off some pretty awesome prizes such as memberships for the Wexner Center for the Arts and Columbus Museum of Art, tickets to Creative Control Fest, Gateway Theatre and Shadowbox Cabaret, books by local poets and even an Aunt Flow swag pack!

The day ended with a relaxing happy hour outside on the patio. Commonhouse Ales generously supplied enough of their signature Six.One For Good ale for all to enjoy, enough to even supply guests with a complimentary six pack to take home! Guests were able to openly converse with speakers, event partners and other organizations to reflect upon the day, and how we can further unite together to strengthen the arts in Ohio for a better future.

Thank you all for collaborating with us for this incredible experience!

Want to get involved next year? causecollab.com