Practices

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

James Baldwin

Most engagements draw on more than one practice. A community benefit agreement, for example, usually needs a negotiation plan, an organized community and a path through a public approval.

Negotiation & Agreements

We prepare, structure and negotiate agreements between parties who need each other and do not yet agree. That covers commercial contracts, partnership deals, community benefit agreements and labor agreements.

A good fit when a negotiation is coming, is stalled, or produced terms nobody is honoring.

  • Negotiation strategyGoals, limits, sequencing and a prepared case for each term.
  • Representation at the tableWe lead the sessions or sit second chair beside your team.
  • Community benefit agreementsTerms between projects and the neighborhoods they affect.
  • Labor and workforce agreementsPreparation and support for both first contracts and renewals.
  • Term sheets and implementationPlain-language terms, then owners and dates for each one.

Civic & Community Strategy

An agreement with a community only works if the community is organized enough to be a party to it. We build the outreach, the coalition and the structure that make that possible.

A good fit when you need residents, members or partner organizations informed, organized and speaking with one voice.

  • Community engagement plansWho to reach, through whom, and in what order.
  • Coalition buildingBringing organizations together and keeping them aligned.
  • Outreach programsField, phone and event outreach with clear targets.
  • Meeting design and facilitationPublic meetings that produce decisions and a record.
  • Faith and neighborhood partnershipsWorking relationships with trusted local institutions.

Government & Public Affairs

We advise political candidates, elected officials and organizations whose outcomes depend on a public decision. That decision might be an election, a vote, a permit, a budget line or a policy. We help you understand the process, take a clear position and build the relationships to be heard.

A good fit when you are running for office, serving in one, or your outcome runs through a council, an agency or a public process.

  • Candidate and campaign counselStrategy, message and coalition advice for people running for office.
  • Counsel to elected officialsAdvising officeholders on priorities, constituents and the path to a vote.
  • Policy analysis and positioningWhat a proposal does, who it affects and where you stand.
  • Advocacy strategyA plan for who needs to hear what, and from whom.
  • Stakeholder mapping and relationsEvery decision-maker and influencer, tracked and engaged.
  • Testimony and briefingsPublic comment, briefing materials and preparation.
  • Agency coordinationKeeping city, county and state offices on the same page.

Business & Organizational Strategy

The organizations that negotiate best know what they want and how they operate. We advise leaders and boards on direction, structure and execution.

A good fit when your organization is growing, changing leadership or preparing for a major commitment.

  • Strategic planningPriorities, measures and a plan people will follow.
  • Operations reviewHow the work gets done today and where it breaks down.
  • Leadership and board advisingA standing advisor for executives and boards.
  • Partnership strategyChoosing partners and structuring the relationship.
  • Retreats and planning sessionsDesigned and facilitated, with decisions written down.

Let’s find the common ground.

Tell us who is at the table and what you need from it. A short note is enough to start.

Start a conversation