From Shared Vision To Actionable Change

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” 
                 – Margaret Wheatley

I was privileged to graphic record the Natural Hazards Workshop again this summer. I'm still feeling inspired by this incredible community that continues to come together despite great challenges to find ways to save lives and make the world safer for everyone. Each year, we co-create a community mural by asking participants to answer a prompt question. I then theme their responses and create a 4'x8' mural that illustrates their collective vision—a visual representation of what this community truly cares about.

There's compelling evidence for why group visioning works: when people can see their shared aspirations, it transforms abstract hopes into actionable momentum. The mural becomes more than art—it's a mirror reflecting the community's deepest values and a roadmap for the years ahead. Watching participants discover common ground through this process never gets old. It's Margaret Wheatley's quote in action: a community literally seeing what it cares about, drawn large enough that no one can miss it.

Community mural in progress.

Community mural in progress.

This year's responses revealed how passionately this group values humanity, reminding me once again why visual facilitation matters. When we make the invisible visible, we don't just capture ideas—we catalyze the very change we're all working toward.

Considering ways to help your community discover what it cares about? I'd love to explore how a community mural could add power to your next event.

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