Did you know that Miami Dade College (MDC) is one of only 42 Ashoka U Changemaker Campuses in the United States?  Or that…

  • More than 20,000 MDC students are enrolled in Changemaking education classes?
  • Nearly 1,400 classes across MDCs 8 campuses feature Changemaking education?
  • More than 250 community partners are engaged in social innovation activities?
  • MDC students, faculty and administrators are creating impact in pursuit of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)?

Yet again, we were amazed by what we learned about this work happening right now at Miami Dade College.

As the largest higher education institution in the United States, MDC has been making higher education accessible for millions of our Miami neighbors since 1960. With a vast Changemaking ecosystem comprised of eight campus change teams, the Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy, The Earth Ethics Institute, The Idea Center, and Student Life, the work is grounded in the belief that the individuals most affected by the social and environmental challenges in need of fixing are those most valuable in the efforts to design solutions.

We were grateful to be engaged by Sandra Louk LaFleur, Director, Changemaking Education and Social Innovation, to create communications and marketing materials to attract and inspire students, faculty, administrative and community members as Changemakers and Social Innovators; to enhance internal understanding about the impact and potential of Changemaking Education; and to provide MDC leadership and the broader community with a report on the impact of nearly four years of Changemaking Education and Social Innovation work.

We began our work with an identification of audiences, inspiration and objectives and set out to gather existing Changemaking Education and Social Innovation stories, imagery and proof points in support of our overall communications and engagement strategy. We developed narrative and graphic design elements to bridge the gaps in an effort to accomplish our client’s storytelling and engagement goals. At the conclusion of our project, we delivered The 2017-2020 Impact Report, a three year retrospective on Changemaking Education and Social Innovation at MDC, and the Changemaker’s Handbook, a roadmap for Changemakers (excerpt above).

Sandra shared, “Telling the story of Changemaking at Miami Dade College was both a thrilling and daunting task to undertake. Working with Carla and Sol provided our small team with the creative power and confidence we needed to see it from beginning to end. Their ability to develop our initial vision for this college wide impact report set the tone for how we would approach each of our regular check-in meetings – with enthusiasm, professionalism, focus, and creativity. As an inaugural publication, the freedom to create could have become overwhelming for us – with so many people to represent, projects to showcase, and opportunities to inspire, the final report could have become overpowering and heavy.  Instead, thanks to their skilled facilitation, they kept us on track and reminded us of what was essential in our initial vision. What mattered to us mattered to them.  Carla and Sol are not only gifted in their craft – they lead with their hearts. This powerful combination was essential for our success, and we couldn’t be more proud of the beautiful result of our first-ever Impact Report for the Office of Changemaking Education and Social Innovation.”

We were delighted to help the MDC Office of Changemaking Education and Social Innovation to build audiences, engage communities, and create connections.

Does your organization or favorite nonprofit need to demonstrate your impact, cultivate your internal constituents, or activate your community? We can help.

Let’s talk and hatch a plan together.