Announcing our new organizational framework & structure
June 18, 2024
The process of transformation takes time, patience, and dedication – like going from seed to bounty in farming and gardening. And, the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger is now ready to share its own harvest after a season of growth, recently completing its transformative journey.
Last spring, we kicked off a yearlong process to help the Blueprint evolve as a connector, convenor, and facilitator and become even more community-centered in our collective work. During the 12 months, we listened and learned what this transformation could and should look like from our community and network partners, program office team, and Governing Council, alongside our strategic planning partners at Point b(e) Strategies.
Now, we’re excited to officially unveil the Blueprint’s new framework and structure that was unanimously approved by our Governing Council last month!
Watch this video message or read more below from Dolores Ramirez (she/ella), Executive Director of Vision, and Joël McClurg (he/him), Executive Director of Integration, for a comprehensive overview of our organizational transformation. This includes:
What will change and what will stay the same;
How the Blueprint will operate moving forward;
What this means for participation; and
What you can expect during our transition over the next few months.
New Organizational Framework
While our vision remains the same, the Blueprint will have a more intentional focus on supporting our statewide network to collectively achieve food sovereignty for everyone living in Colorado. (See our vision, new mission, and values.)
As part of this, we’re moving away from the original plan’s five goals and now centering four new organizational commitments. They’re the new pillars for our organization’s foundation that will drive our work forward:
Convene stakeholders around shared priorities
Support local solutions to local problems
Strengthen resources & build capacity
Champion bold policy change
Want to find out more about each commitment and what they mean for the Blueprint? Watch this video or view these slides.
This also means that we’re shifting the way we work to better meet the needs expressed by the Blueprint community – and better align with the organization’s vision, mission, and commitments. We’ll dive more into that next.
New Organizational Structure
With such major changes to the Blueprint’s framework, our operations are shifting and how we function will look different going forward. Here’s how we’ll be structured:
Here are some of the most notable changes to expect over the next few months:
All workgroups will sunset by July 2024, if they haven’t done so already, since they centered the original plan’s five goals, which we’re moving away from.
All existing committees will continue but go through a refresh to align with our four new organizational commitments. This includes state policy, federal policy, and data & evaluation.
We’re wrapping up some project teams with others remaining active for a while. Find out more about which time-limited project teams will continue and what they’re focused on right now.
We’ll introduce new committees in the coming months, including community voice, communications and accessibility, and grant review. (More information to come in the near future!)
We’ll continue to hold space for Blueprint updates and collaboration with state agencies and state partners in the food access update meetings, but they’ll move from quarterly to bi-monthly and 90 to 120 minutes this fall. And, the Blueprint will also continue to host quarterly convenings for food coalitions that are active or newly forming across Colorado.
A strategic advisory board, with representatives from local food coalitions and Colorado communities, will replace the Governing Council.
And, last but not least, the Blueprint is expanding its program office team to best fulfill the four new commitments! We recently introduced two new roles and team members – Policy Manager and Community Justice Manager. And, we’ll have a Development Director on board by late summer. Meet our growing team.
As the Blueprint undergoes its much-anticipated transformation, we kindly ask that you bear with us while we co-build new spaces and expand our team with new staff.
Staying Informed & Engaged
As we fully transition over the next several months, here are a few ways to remain involved and up-to-date on happenings:
First and foremost, subscribe to our newsletter and email updates to get the latest news on the Blueprint’s organizational transformation, including when we introduce new committees and/or project teams.
Join one of our existing committees – state policy, federal policy, and data & evaluation – that are welcoming new members. Also, find out more about our currently active project teams and which are accepting more members.
Thanks to all in our network who contributed during our yearlong process! Your insights and perspectives truly helped shape the Blueprint’s future, and we are forever grateful to you.
And, we want to give special thanks to our small but mighty program office team for their tireless work and dedication, the leadership and guidance from our Governing Council, and the immense support from our strategic planning partners at Point b(e) Strategies.
It’s been quite the journey to get here, and we’re beyond excited to transform into a true community hub – a place of connection, collaboration, and positive change that’s working towards a Colorado where every person living here can access the food they choose, where they want it, and when they need it.
In solidarity,
Dolores Ramirez
Executive Director of Vision
Joël McClurg
Executive Director of Integration