The Challenge

Landslides represent a catastrophic threat to lives and infrastructure across Southeast Alaska. The SLIPP Workshop is designed to be a regional gathering that coordinates the exchange of landslide information, research, and lived experiences between Tribal leaders, municipal planners, scientists, federal and state agencies, community leaders, and emergency response providers.

Phase 1: Collaborative Planning & Institutional Alignment

I joined the project in the early planning stages and served as the strategic lead during a volatile transition period.

• Managing Instability: I guided the committee through federal funding freezes and project pauses, ensuring that institutional knowledge was preserved even as partnering organizations changed.
• Strategic Alignment: I facilitated the planning committees through a process of creating a common way to communicate landslide themes, research, tools, and processes. This foundational work was essential to establishing shared conference objectives and a cohesive agenda that resonated across all participating sectors.

Phase 2: Dynamic Event Facilitation

During the two-day conference in Sitka, I served as the bridge between technical experts and community leaders.

• Bridging Perspectives: I design and lead facilitated sessions that bridge the gap between technical data and community knowledge. I specialize in creating a shared language among diverse participants to deepen their collective understanding of landslide risk.
  
• Interactive Dialogue: Using facilitation and experiential learning tools, we ensure our workshop conversations move beyond simple data-sharing and into meaningful action. Our process mirrors how the human brain naturally processes information, allowing groups to engage, learn and reach consensus effectively and respectfully.

Phase 3: Synthesis & Strategic Follow-Up

• Comprehensive Reporting: I manage the synthesis of conference presentations and facilitated exercises into follow-up materials accessible to communities across the region.
• Roadmap Implementation: The final phase focuses on defining the immediate next steps for the regional landslide practitioners and researchers, ensuring the momentum of the event was captured for future initiatives.