How Teams Find Clarity, Connection, and Momentum Through Facilitation and Strategic Planning
- Sandhya Atkinson
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Ever find yourself checking the weather app obsessively when it shows that tantalizing 30% chance of rain? Here in Southwest Colorado, we’re all doing it—stepping outside every twenty minutes, scanning the horizon like we can will the clouds to open up. The sky puts on a show: dramatic formations over the mesas, wind picking up, the hint of moisture in the air. And then… nothing. The clouds drift off like a friend who meant to stop by, but never quite makes it to the door.  But here’s where it gets interesting—organizations do the same thing. They wait for perfect conditions, ideal timing, the stars to align. That board retreat gets delayed (again) because Mercury’s in retrograde or the Finance Director is on vacation. The strategic planning session is postponed until everyone has their ducks in a row.
The thing is, what if those perfect conditions are just a mirage?
Sometimes movement has to come first. We have to stir the air. Create the momentum. Put intention into something and watch as it starts to take shape. Maybe we really can call in the rain.
If your team is stuck waiting for the perfect moment, maybe it’s time to stop watching the sky and start co-creating your own weather. That’s where we come in.
We’re currently scheduling strategic planning and board and staff retreats for the Fall season—one of the best times to set a clear course together before the new year (and new budgets) roll in. If you’ve been waiting to align your team or revisit your strategy, we’d love to support you. Let's talk. |
Our Team in Action |
Visioning the Future of Bears Ears: This month, our team had the deep honor of launching a multi-month strategic planning process with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition. The first in-person, hybrid retreat was held at Twin Arrows Resort, outside of Flagstaff, AZ.
Leaders and staff from the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Zuni Pueblo came together to envision the future of co-stewardship of Bears Ears National Monument — a vision first dreamed and designed by the five Tribes, including the Ute Indian Tribe.
Through guided visioning, storytelling and collective dialogue, we explored what success could look like over the next five years — for the land, the organization, and Tribal communities. This retreat marked a powerful step in a broader strategic planning journey that will shape the Coalition’s next chapter.
We’re deeply grateful to co-facilitator Elroy Keetso of Ashkii Tsó LLC for bringing grounded leadership, humor, and cultural integrity to the space. And we're grateful to co-facilitator Colleen Cooley with Cooley Consulting, LLC for connecting us with this work! We're excited to collaborate with her for the upcoming sessions.
Bears Ears is more than a monument—it’s a living legacy of relationship, protection, and sovereignty. We’re thankful to be walking alongside this coalition during their journey.
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Here to Support You |
At Sagebrush, we specialize in:
Facilitation · Strategic Planning · Stakeholder Engagement · Leadership & Board Development · Nonprofit Consulting · Transformational Change
From school districts to state agencies, from community-based coalitions to city councils, from nonprofit organizations to neighborhood meetings - we believe everyone benefits when they have a seat at the table and a chance to be heard. That’s the power of facilitation. We also work alongside a trusted circle of partners offering:Philanthropy strategy, trauma-informed and resilience training, graphic facilitation, Indigenous consulting, communications, evaluation, community advocacy, and much more. These are folks we’ve collaborated with and deeply trust - experts who share our values and commitment to meaningful, community-centered work. Need support beyond our core offerings? We’re happy to connect you with the right people in our extended network. Just reach out - we’re here to help you find what you need. |
Upcoming Events |
🌱 Regional Convening - Community Resource Center Southwest Region: August 12th, Durango, CO https://crcamerica.org/programs/regional_convenings/ 🌱 HR Power Hour - Community Foundation Serving SW CO Featuring two of our partners: Jennifer Bassignani and Dave Albrechta Every Tuesday, September – October https://www.swcommunityfoundation.org/hr-power-hour/ 🌱 2025 Alliance Summit - La Plata Economic Development Alliance September 11th, Sky Ute Casino & Resort, Ignacio, CO https://yeslpc.com/2025-summit/ 🌱 West Slope Startup Week Sagebrush will be leading a workshop! Come join us! October 6 - 10th, Durango, CO |
What's Inspiring Us |
This season, we’ve been reaching for stories and wisdom that help us tune in and stay aligned: 📖 The Power of Eight by Lynne McTaggartA book about the incredible science of group intention and the power of collective healing. It’s a beautiful reminder that transformation doesn’t have to happen alone, it happens in community. What's been inspiring you lately?We'd love to know! 😊 |
Updates From The Trail |
 If you’ve made it to the end of this long newsletter, you definitely deserve an update on my sweetie, Dylan, who’s currently hiking the Continental Divide Trail.
So far, he’s made it through Montana and Idaho and will be arriving in Yellowstone by the end of this week! He’s met some wonderful trail friends, stayed in tiny hostels, and even celebrated his birthday with a homemade meal shared in a cozy hikers' kitchen on the Idaho border.
We’ve been staying connected through spotty texts and video calls, and while we both miss each other dearly, I’m so proud of his commitment to this dream and proud of me too, for continuing to hold space for his self-discovery and adventure. ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ Thank you for reading. As always, we’re here to help you find the clarity, connection, and momentum your work is calling for. With care, Sandhya + the Sagebrush Team |
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