Strategic Communications for Community Organizations: A Project for Georgia Program Recap

From May 31 to June 4, we welcomed 4 leaders from Georgia, accompanied by two interpreters, for the program titled “Strategic Communications for Community Organizations.” The aim of their visit to eastern Iowa was centered around four objectives: to share the best practices for strategic communication in the non-profit sector; explore how social media and new technologies can be utilized to amplify messages, disseminate information and connect with a target audience; discuss how community-level organizations network among themselves and with other organizations to share information and resources to maximize impact; and establish and strengthen U.S. and Georgian bilateral connections among NGO managers and communication specialists.    

Upon their arrival to Iowa City from Chicago, the leaders had the rest of their first day to get settled and explore Iowa City on their own. 

June 1 started with a meal and networking with Jenifer Vick, Co-Director of the Nonprofit Leadership, who met and hosted the delegation. At the conclusion of the meal, the leaders enjoyed the rest of the evening on their own.  

On June 2, the delegation started their morning with a meeting with Lifetime Citizen Diplomat Steve Merkel-Hess and Global Ties Iowa Board Director Lynn Ouedraogo. Afterwards, the group had a meeting with the co-director of the University of Iowa’s Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy Certificate, Jenifer Vick, and professors Lon Moeller and Ken Brown. They discussed community and government partnerships, organizational leadership, planning, human resources, financial accountability, grant writing, and website creation and maintenance. After the meeting, the group had lunch and went to their final meeting of the day with the Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center (INRC). The delegation was met by volunteer Jane McMullen and Global Ties Iowa staff member Ani Jilavyan. At the meeting with INRC Director Paul Thelen and associate director Dave Bright, the delegation learned in detail that INRC has an established record of training students in nonprofit law, offering workshops and training to nonprofit workers statewide, providing critical information on strategic planning and development, and developing publications and guidelines for Iowa’s nonprofit organizations.  

June 3 started with an optional breakfast with the Global Ties Iowa Executive Director Amy Alice Chastain, who accompanied them for the duration of their day. After the breakfast, they went to their first meeting of the day with Ellie Moore, the Vice President of Community Impact & Outreach at the Johnson County Nonprofit Alliance. The delegation was informed on the organization’s mission to support and strengthen nonprofit organizations across the county through grants, educational programming, and networking opportunities. After, the group was joined by Global Ties Iowa staff member Ani Jilavyan and boarded the bus to Cedar Rapids to meet with Susan Johnston, Executive Director at the Central Furniture Rescue. The delegation had a tour of Central Furniture Rescue; leaders were able to hear the mission and story of it, share the story and mission behind their work and ask questions. They also participated in some volunteer work. After the meeting they had lunch at the NewBo City Market and headed to their final meeting of the day. They met with Zack Kucharski, executive editor of  The Gazette, and Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, to learn about the vision, mission and operation of The Gazette, a fully independent and 100 percent employee-owned media company, and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a non-profit consortium of newspapers, radio and television stations, media associations, educators, publishers, broadcasters and others interested in openness in government and First Amendment rights. 

On Wednesday, June 4, the delegation departed Iowa City. 

We would like to thank Steve Merkel Hess, Lynn Ouedraogo, Jane McMullen, Ani Jilavyan, and Amy Alice Chastain for volunteering and interacting with the delegation! Additionally, we extend our gratitude to the University of Iowa’s Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy, Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center, Community Impact & Outreach at the Johnson County Nonprofit Alliance, the Central Furniture Rescue, The Gazette and the Iowa Freedom of Information Council for serving as our professional resources for this program! We appreciate the time and effort you have taken to engage with our delegation and connect the world and the heartland.