Intentional Strategic Planning
From Reactionary to Intentional: Laying the Foundation for Strategic Planning
Most strategic planning processes are reactionary—they respond to funding cycles, external pressures and institutional metrics rather than aligning with a long-term visions of liberation. While this approach may address immediate concerns, it often reinforces the very systems we claim to transform leaving us without clear pathways to genuine systemic change.
At Create Good, we believe intentional strategic planning requires more than just responding to what’s directly in front of us. It’s about stepping back, connecting our work to historical context and ancestral wisdom and ensuring that our strategies reflect the transformational outcomes we seek.
The Power of Decolonized Foundations
Through my work with organizations, I’ve seen firsthand how much more transformative strategic planning can be when we take the time to lay liberatory foundations before diving into the planning process. Too often, organizations move quickly into planning mode without first centering sovereignty, redistributing power, or examining their role in larger systems of domination. As a result, plans feel disconnected from the structural transformation they’re meant to support.
To bridge this gap, I’ve developed a Beyond DEI: Decolonizing Strategy workshop—a learning space designed to help justice-oriented community members and organizations build the groundwork for strategic approaches rooted in self-determination.
What This Workshop Covers
This workshop is designed for organizations ready to move beyond reactionary planning and embrace a decolonized approach.
Participants will:
Identify how colonial logics currently shape our work
Learn a decolonized framework for strategic thinking
Strengthen our internal clarity and strategic imagination
Build decolonized practices and approaches
Why This Matters
We know that systems change is a long-term process—one that requires coordination among many different actors moving toward a shared visions of self-determination. Whether you’re leading a community organization, a funders’ circle or an initiative, taking the time to clarify your approach within the ecosystem of transformation can make your work more effective and aligned with justice.
This workshop is an opportunity to ensure your strategic planning process is not just another exercise, but a transformative step toward embedding liberation and self-determination into your organization’s approach.
If your organization is thinking about strategic planning this year, let’s start by ensuring the foundation is rooted in decolonial principles. Reach out to learn more about the Decolonizing Strategy workshop and how it can support your team’s liberation journey.
