Hunger Free Vermont Culture

(This photo is from an appreciative inquiry exercise at our staff meeting on Monday, February 6th 

evaluating our strengths as an organization.)



Throughout my blog posts you will hear more about how Hunger Free Vermont staff takes time to work on our internal culture.  In our 2010-2015 strategic plan we clearly state our goal to:

Nurture a learning culture that encourages excellence, innovation, and retention of board and staff.

We take this goal very seriously by hosting monthly “culture conversations.”  These conversations are a chance for staff to reflect on the environment we need to accomplish our work of ending hunger and malnutrition.  The conversations last about two hours and we’ve covered topics ranging from work/life balance to visioning the future of the organization to strengthening our internal communications to exploring each other’s enneagram types.  With each conversation I am moved and humbled by the honesty and brilliance of our staff.  It is an honor and privilege to come to work here every day and work on behalf of vulnerable Vermonters.  Our culture conversations often refocus us on our mission and help us do our work in more efficient and collaborative ways.  In March we’ll be exploring how we can work more as one team and less in our silos as individual departments.