Cross-Pollinating
Community Gatherings
A unique program involving 2 different types of community connection-building activities both within and between communities - with many Pollinator Gatherings within communities building to a large, collaborative Cross-Pollination Swarm across all communities
POLLINATOR GATHERINGS
An opportunity for a small, diverse group to meet and share an evening of arts, food, dialogue and ideas around a meaningful theme related to community and being human! Each event includes:
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a shared arts experience
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a shared meal around the table with a single facilitated conversation on the theme
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a lively ideation on how to create deeper, better & more connected communities
Cross-Pollination SwarmS
Once or twice per year, all the attendees of the Pollinator Gatherings come together from different communities to share the varied insights from their gatherings and then re-engage in mixed, cross-community teams to generate ideas and approaches to build greater community understanding and experiences.
Community-Engaging
Arts Immersions
These Arts-driven events and experiences engage and surprise the audience. All Arts Immersions are centered on a meaningful theme around being human - from Stage Performances to Artist Storyshares to “Laying It Down” on the Piano - with each event involving members of the community and engaging the audience in collaboration and dialogue on the theme.
The LID Sessions
The Piano is said to be the most popular instrument to learn and play. Some who learn go on to music careers, some drop piano entirely, and others make piano an important part of their personal lives, just not publicly! Host Frederic Chiu created The LID Sessions to draw out those pianists to come and surprise their community and “Lay It Down” on the piano for an audience. It's always fun to see who shows up on the stage. The music ends with a community conversation further revealing the piano-connection thread!
Workshops to reimagine
innovate and transform
Like for other sectors, the landscape is changing and evolving for many community organizations. There is a need to understand community and their needs in a much deeper way. With EXCITE Transformation workshops, organizations gain skills that allow them to continually evolve, re-imagine, innovate and transform to address the deepest needs and desires of their communities. DPS workshops allow organization leaders to deepen their personal performance using techniques and mindsets of classical pianists.
EXCITE and DPS Workshops
These skills allow organizations, staff and individuals to gain a deep understanding of community/audiences and to reimagine and transform themselves, their organizations and how they serve.
By Learning How To:
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Connect deeply with community/audience needs
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Practice true collaboration internally and externally
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Improve personal focus and performance
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Adopt the process & mindset to expand ideas and engage in purposeful innovation
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Develop programs that inspire, engage and align
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EXCITE: Has been used by more than 75 companies & 64 libraries/community orgs
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DPS: Has been run for dozens of universities, thousands of individuals
The HIVE’s Vision Is To Collaboratively Create A “Human Pollinator Pathway” Within & Across Fairfield County Communities in Partnership with
Arts, Culture and Community Organizations
2024 Summary (Scroll down for pics and details)
Feb-Apr
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We created The HIVE Identity: Concept, Logos, Materials & Website
May-July
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Launched The Golden Honey Donor Club Program
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Hosted 5 Pollinator Gatherings with EDs of 30 Organizations to have them experience The HIVE Conversations and to listen to their input on interest and needs.
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Presented & tested interactive HIVE programs at The Westport Library
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Made our first media appearance on CAFC's "Spotlight on The Arts" Podcast​
Aug-Oct
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Met with 20 additional EDs (individually or through presentations to multiple Arts Associations/Councils) to introduce The HIVE and solicit additional input & feedback
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Hosted HIVE Pollinator Gatherings with younger, “hard to reach" community for input.
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Hosted the first HIVE Partner Network Conference with 30 Organizations signing up. The collaborative work sessions identified the value of the HIVE to organizations and community
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And laid the groundwork for how The HPN will collaborate and work together going forward
Nov-Dec
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Synthesized all the input and refined how The HIVE will work with The HPN​
​2025 Plan
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Jan: Present to and sign up organizations as members to participate in the first HIVE Season.
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Feb-April: Work collaboratively with The HPN to develop The HIVE Season 1 programs, publicity, etc.
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April-July: Launch The HIVE Season 1 with The HIVE Partner Network