Strategic planning can be a lot of work, but the process of planning the future of Michigan Family Resources, a non-profit child development agency, needed to reflect its own playful spirit.

Michigan Family Resources (MFR), the grantee agency for Head Start and Early Head Start in Kent County, Michigan is dedicated to the well-being and development of children. In times of economic change and ever-increasing need in our communities, our children need quality childcare and education. The people at MFR knew that to deal with change they needed to grow with their community.

So we brought together a group of smart and creative people. Instead of plain paper and computers, we gave them a means to express their ideas in a creative collage of images and words. Competitive exercises and thought-provoking work yielded a refreshed mission, vision, core values, key strategies and tactics, timelines and responsibilities. In about six hours. Not six weeks.

A report was compiled, aligned with government requirements and soon thereafter a ratified strategic plan was soon to be implemented. By collaborating, we got the reports written and the folks at MFR focused on the children.