In Fall 2024, the Lawrence History Center (LHC) launched a thoughtful and inclusive strategic planning process with the support of Community InRoads, a nonprofit that connects local organizations with pro bono professional expertise. Through this partnership, we were introduced to Edith Onderick-Harvey, Managing Partner at NextBridge Consulting, LLC, who served as our planning consultant and facilitator.

 

To better align with our operations, we transitioned our planning cycle to follow the fiscal year (May 1–April 30) instead of the calendar year.

 

We began by reaffirming four core focus areas that continue to define our mission and shape our future:

 

  • Collections
  • Education and Outreach
  • Historic Preservation
  • Financial Resource Development

 

To center community voices in the process, we distributed a pre-planning survey to a diverse array of stakeholders, including board members, funders, community partners, researchers, volunteers, and staff. Their insights provided a critical foundation for our strategic planning retreat. 

 

On Saturday, February 22, 2025, LHC held a full-day retreat at our headquarters, bringing together board members, staff, key volunteers, and our planning consultant. Executive Director Susan Grabski opened the session with reflections on our progress, challenges, and growing role in the community.

 

In the morning, we reviewed accomplishments from the previous plan and reflected on key findings from the stakeholder survey. In the afternoon, we shifted into visioning and strategy development through collaborative, hands-on exercises like Stop/Start/Continue and scenario planning.

 

Guiding questions included:

 

  • Where do we want to be in three years?
  • What are our highest-impact priorities?
  • What must we start, stop, or continue doing to succeed?
  • What could we achieve with no limits?

 

We closed the day with a shared vision and renewed energy to advance LHC’s mission and impact.

 

By day’s end, we had a collective vision and renewed energy to propel us forward. As we move ahead, this plan will remain a living document—dynamic, adaptable, and responsive to the evolving needs and aspirations of the Lawrence History Center and the community we serve.