Podcasts June 18, 2024 Fran Stoddard is a journalist and consultant who has been involved in education, public relations, media production, facilitation, and strategy development for more than 30 years. With a deep interest in helping organizations and communities move forward, Fran has used Appreciative Inquiry to help inspire impacts in towns and communities across the country. Listen Here Episode Highlights: Fran’s path to AI started when she took a job with the Orton Family Foundation. She realized that much of their work with communities was built upon appreciative practices. She used AI to help facilitate conversations in a Maine Community that struggled to move past its history as a former mill town. By dialoguing around strengths and possibilities – the town flourished by honoring its history while embracing opportunities that allowed it to thrive (find a short video about this work here). She touches on the power of intergenerational collaboration. Fran did strategic planning work with the town of Waterbury, VT and shares some event planning tips! She shares some of the questions she asks when working with communities that really resonate, and ignite the inspiring conversations. She emphasizes how collecting stories and finding common threads can be used to discover the heart and soul of a community and generate value statements that help it stay focused on its strengths. Fran Stoddard“It is very hard work, but once a town begins to get its pride back, and when your trust of your neighbors gets back on a good foundation, so much can happen – so many wonderful things.” Listen Here Did this episode inspire or impact you? Want to make an impact on us? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend, leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, and follow Inspiring Impacts wherever you listen to podcasts!
