ArtCorps’ Creative Facilitators Isabel Carrió and Adriana Guzman started off the new year in Belize with a custom-designed course for the Toledo Institute of Development and Environment (TIDE), a conservation organization working with communities in the heart of the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor to establish sustainable resource management of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and local forests.
TIDE Staff participates in an impromptu jam session: making music with instruments, found objects, and their bodies.
In early February, TIDE convened 28 staff members for the two-day ArtCorps training, which introduced them to creative techniques designed to strengthen internal communication and systems and to build trust with their stakeholder communities. Activities such as “Monologue, Dialogue”, “The Tree of Life”, “Appreciative Inquiry” and even an impromptu musical jam allowed them to learn and practice skills for effective communication.
In the “Monologue, Dialogue” activity, participants experienced both the limitations of disseminating information in a one-way monologue and the benefits of a true dialogue.They also uncovered ways we often misinterpret and make assumptions about another person’s intentions, which breaks down trust and leads to conflict. Then, the participants analyzed their workplace together to develop clear two-way communication and feedback systems that build trust, clarity, and a sense of shared purpose for their team.
Albert Jacobs, TIDE Managed Access Manager showing his communication tool of choice
In the Tree of Life exercise, participants developed visual metaphors that represented their personal narrative and shared their stories with each other. This helped them to build skills in self-reflection, active listening, empathy and the ability to define and represent their life experiences in an empowering way.
On Day Two, the staff worked in cross-departmental groups to brainstorm new, creative approaches to building visibility and engagement within their stakeholder communities. They designed several creative communication strategies, including radio dramas and a TV program highlighting important conservation efforts to motivate community involvement.
The Creative Communication course proved to be fun, motivating and effective as the TIDE staff learned new ways of thinking and relating through true dialogue. Here are a few testimonials from participants, who expressed their gratitude for the experience:
“The workshop allowed me to share some personal thoughts with colleagues. In listening to my co-workers I realized that there are many areas of my personal life where we have commonalities. I came out of the two days feeling more connected to my colleagues and much more ready to share personal opinions and views. As a team we hope to incorporate these ‘stretching’ activities as part of our daily routine.
– Mr. Paul Etienne, IT & Media Manager
Mrs. Celia Mahung, TIDE Executive Director sharing her team’s Communication Strategy for Summer Camp
“This experience invites you to search in your soul, think outside the box, and allows you to stretch out of your comfort zone.”
– Ms. Delonie Foreman, TIDE Tours Manager
We are excited to continue work with TIDE this year, implementing new creative approaches in their environmental education and community outreach programs. Look for the upcoming stories of staff members who have already begun to apply their new communication skills within the community!
TIDE is one of six partners working with ArtCorps to develop stronger collaboration and more effective strategies in our Gulf of Honduras Creative Conservation Project.
Thank you for being a part of it with us!
