Guiding a triple impact business community in determining its strategic direction
B Local: Mid-Atlantic Region is a community of Certified B Corporations that foster and deepen connections among organizations in the region (Delaware, Maryland, Washington, DC and Northern Virginia) that have a shared purpose and passion for using business as a force for good. B Corporations are a type of company that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Since its formation in May 2015, B Local: Mid-Atlantic Region has hosted gatherings to raise awareness about the B Corporation movement and foster connections between B Corporations and other organizations advancing social, economic and environmental impact.
A track record of hosting engaging, well-attended events as well as the expansion of B Local’s Steering Committee to include new members prompted the need for a plan to transition from spontaneous to focused efforts to advance its mission. Shifting Patterns’ Chief Change Architect, who also serves on the B Local: Mid-Atlantic Region Steering Committee, offered to facilitate a strategic planning session. During two half-day meetings in August 2016 the Steering Committee, with guidance from Shifting Patterns, crafted a purpose statement and vision of success, devised strategic goals, and developed an action plan to guide its activities. The Steering Committee continues to meet on a regular basis to review progress in implementing the action plan as well as at the beginning of each year to develop a new plan.
As a result of this planning process, there is a clearly defined and mutually owned strategy to guide the work of the Steering Committee along with an actionable plan for meeting its goals for awareness raising, community building and fostering individual connections. Dividing tasks according to members’ talents, interests and resources has enabled the Steering Committee to tap into its strengths for carrying out an ambitious plan. Another outcome is that Steering Committee members have formed stronger bonds by getting to know each other better.
To learn more about B Local: Mid-Atlantic Region and how you can be part of a movement of people using business as a force for good, check out http://blocalma.org.