Approach

Regenerative

Constellate draws upon Social Solidarity Economy principles and Movement Generation’s Just Transitions Framework, combined with a careful analysis of each client’s context, to take a regenerative approach by considering:

• What are the possibilities for social and ecological benefit?

• Who pays the costs? How are these costs distributed? (costs may be paid in money, time, pollution, safety, health, mental health, etc.)

• How could the benefits and/or the costs be spread more equitably?

• What is the impact of this change within our organization? Who experiences the benefits and who experiences the costs?

• What are the possible positive adaptations can we make in response to this information?

Future-Oriented

Drawing on futures thinking methodologies, Constellate helps organizations understand their future possibilities so they can determine what to do (and how to do it) in the present. Together we’ll answer:

• What are the foreseeable trends and changes in the areas related to the project (funding, program participation, partnerships, staffing, etc.)?

• What are the unknowns?

• What are the most likely disruptions?

• What if we were ready when the next one happens? What would that look like?

• What opportunities exist to create flexibility to allow further adaptation in the future?

Creative

Creativity is core to Constellate’s work because the tools we need in the future will be different from the tools we use today. Taking a creative approach to planning and problem-solving means working together to climb “outside the box” and discover alternative paths. With a creative approach, we discuss:

• What would be the “normal way” to do this? What about this approach isn’t working or won’t work in the future?

• What ideas are you not saying because they seem “too crazy”?

• Whose ideas haven’t we heard?

• What creative solutions have other organizations been using?

Grounded in Real Life

A plan is only as good as its implementation, and Constellate’s approach ensures clients are as clear on implementation plans as they are on goals and strategies. To this end, projects consider:

• What do the organization’s staff need in order to make this change successful? What do leaders need?

• What are the practical, “on the ground” implications of this work?

• How much effort will be required and who is doing the work?

• What tools, technology, processes, documentation, or other practical supports are needed to make this project successful?

• What are the financial needs, possibilities, and ramifications?

All services are customized to the needs and goals of each individual client, but across services, Constellate’s approach is: