Strategic Planning and Implementation
At New Dream Consulting, our Strategic Planning & Implementation service is designed to empower organizations to not only achieve their goals but to do so through an equity-focused lens. We partner with you to define a vision that embraces diversity and inclusion, ensuring that every strategic decision contributes to a more just and equitable future. By setting ambitious goals that prioritize both success and social impact, we craft actionable steps that drive tangible, transformative results. Our approach includes comprehensive SWOT analysis and scenario planning, enabling you to anticipate challenges and opportunities with a focus on equity and access. We establish precise metrics to monitor progress, aligning every effort with your mission to foster sustainable growth, inclusive practices, and long-term impact. Let us help you build a strategic framework that not only propels your organization forward but also uplifts the communities you serve, ensuring that success is shared by all.
What We Provide
Vision Development & Goal Setting: We work closely with your leadership team to articulate a compelling vision and establish long-term goals that align with your organization's mission, ensuring all stakeholders are inspired and unified in purpose.
SWOT Analysis & Equity Audit: Our approach includes a deep dive into your organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, coupled with an equity audit to identify gaps and opportunities for fostering a more inclusive and diverse environment.
Scenario Planning & Resilience Building: We help you anticipate future challenges and opportunities through scenario planning, crafting strategies that not only prepare you for various outcomes but also build organizational resilience, particularly in advancing equity and inclusion.
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration Strategy: We design and implement strategies to engage key stakeholders—both internal and external—ensuring that your strategic plans are informed by diverse perspectives and have broad support, driving collaborative success.
Metrics Development & Impact Tracking: We create precise metrics and impact-tracking systems tailored to your strategic goals, enabling you to monitor progress in real-time, make data-driven adjustments, and ensure that your efforts are yielding the desired outcomes.
Equity-Centered Strategic Implementation: We specialize in translating strategic plans into actionable, equity-centered initiatives that are seamlessly integrated into your organization's operations, ensuring that every step taken contributes to a more equitable and sustainable future.
Case Study
Transforming Community Impact through Strategic Planning & Equity-Centered Leadership
Client Overview: A Thriving Mid-Sized City
A thriving mid-sized city in the southeastern United States sought to establish a robust Office of Government Relations to better align its initiatives with community needs and secure critical funding for public safety, affordable housing, and infrastructure projects. The city faced challenges in effectively advocating for resources and building strategic partnerships, particularly in areas impacting marginalized communities.
Objective
To create and lead an Office of Government Relations that would secure significant funding, drive policy advocacy, and foster cross-sector partnerships with a focus on equity and community impact.
Approach
1. Vision Development & Strategic Planning
Action: LaToya C. Crawford spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive vision document outlining the goals and objectives for the new Office of Government Relations. This included setting long-term strategic goals that were directly aligned with the city’s mission and community needs.
Result: The clear vision and strategic direction laid the foundation for a successful launch and operational framework for the office, ensuring all efforts were focused on impactful outcomes.
2. Equity-Centered Policy Advocacy
Action: LaToya integrated an equity lens into all advocacy efforts, ensuring that the needs of marginalized communities were prioritized. She successfully advocated for over $23 million in federal, state, and local funding to support critical projects in public safety, affordable housing, and infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on addressing disparities in these areas.
Result: The funding secured was pivotal in advancing initiatives that directly benefited underserved communities, demonstrating a commitment to equitable resource distribution.
3. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
Action: LaToya initiated the first Education Partners Roundtable, bringing together leaders from education, transportation, and housing sectors to tackle workforce and community challenges collaboratively. This included engaging with federal and state lobbying teams to enhance legislative success.
Result: This collaborative approach led to a 300% increase in strategic partnerships and a significant boost in community support for the city’s initiatives, ensuring that diverse perspectives were included in decision-making processes.
4. Strategic Implementation & Impact Monitoring
Action: LaToya established precise metrics and performance indicators to monitor the progress of the office’s initiatives, ensuring that all strategies were effectively implemented and adjusted as needed. This included continuous evaluation of the office’s impact on the community, particularly in advancing equity goals.
Result: The implementation of these strategies resulted in the first local bill turned statewide for public safety improvements, a testament to the effectiveness of the planning and execution under LaToya’s leadership.
5. Innovative Funding & Development Strategies
Action: In addition to securing traditional government funding, LaToya leveraged strategic relationships to secure $15 million in state funding for regional infrastructure improvements and $11 million for the remediation of key public spaces. She also co-organized the Mayor’s inaugural State of the City event, showcasing major economic and legislative milestones to garner further support.
Result: The innovative approach to funding and development not only met immediate financial needs but also positioned the city for long-term economic and social growth.
6. Resilience Building through Scenario Planning
Action: LaToya led scenario planning exercises to anticipate future challenges and ensure that the city’s strategies were resilient and adaptable. This included planning for potential legislative changes and economic shifts that could impact funding and resource allocation.
Result: The city’s enhanced ability to navigate complex challenges and adapt to changing conditions strengthened its position and ensured continued success in achieving its strategic goals.
Outcome
Under LaToya C. Crawford’s leadership, the mid-sized city’s Office of Government Relations not only met but exceeded its strategic objectives. The office secured over $23 million in critical funding, drove significant legislative successes, and fostered cross-sector partnerships that have had a lasting impact on the community. By embedding an equity lens into all aspects of strategic planning and implementation, LaToya ensured that the office’s work was both inclusive and transformative, setting a new standard for government relations and community impact.
This case study highlights how New Dream Consulting, led by LaToya C. Crawford, can empower your organization to achieve similar transformative results through strategic planning, equity-centered leadership, and innovative funding solutions.