Meaningful Gatherings
For teams seeking a collaborator to help design and deliver an amazing conference or retreat, without a hitch.
The need
Effective gatherings start with a clear purpose. I collaborate with leaders from a wide range of education and social impact organizations to build a shared understanding of the intended purpose, outcomes, and tone of their workshop, retreat, or conference. From there, the list of to-dos grows quickly - operations and logistics, communications, participant experience, and more. In partnership with the people who hold the vision for the gathering, I bring that vision to life, making sure every detail of the convening represents the organization's values and comes together to fulfill the overall purpose, minimizing stress and maximizing precious IRL time together.
The work
An outdoorsy, creative convening of The Reinvention Lab team in Sundance, Utah
A playful, quirky retreat for the Pahara team at their Lone Rock campus in the Colorado mountains
A restful, reflective virtual retreat for the staff and advisory board of The Nora Project
A festive celebration of 500 teachers and leaders of high-performing LA County schools in partnership with Innovate Public Schools
More than a dozen in-person and virtual convenings for NewSchools Venture Fund’s grantees, ranging from intimate city-based gatherings for 30 school founders to NSVF’s high profile NewSchools Summit for 1200 education leaders, funders, and policymakers
The impact
❝ I have had the privilege of working with Jessica to bring some amazing conferences and convenings to life. My first advice to clients planning an event is to bring Jess on board. Her level of rigor and organization ensures everyone can feel confident that the work will happen well and on time. She knows the right balance for when to elevate hot spots and when to tackle them behind the scenes. She has an incredibly high bar for operations, which translates to participants feeling deeply cared for and ready to learn. She's relentless, creative, and a pure joy to work with. ❞
- Rob Strain, Founder, Lemon Battery