Client Feedback
From Harvard School of Public Health Newsletter, November 2010:
In October 2010, 42 researchers from around the world gathered in Hydra, Greece, for the first-ever World Cohort Integration Workshop. Day 1 of the four-day retreat was devoted solely to introductions and dialogue about cross-cultural collaboration. This was guided by four wise facilitators from VISIONS, Inc. .... By the end of the four days, we had become more than collaborators – we were a group of friends on a mission to improve cohort research across the globe.
"Interestingly enough, we did not jump-start our discussions the way one normally does at a scientific workshop. Instead, we spent the first day in the hands of professional facilitators (VISIONS, Inc), who work to bridge the communications gap within these multicultural groups. They led us through group dynamics, responsibilities and various insights into what helps or hinders us when we communicate and collaborate. By combining practical exercises with guidelines for effective cross-cultural dialogue, we were ready to start our cohort discussions on day two. How did it go? In one word: excellent."
~ participant from Sweden in Harvard School of Public Health World Cohort Integration Workshop
"The first day of the meeting was an eye opener and the networking was par excellence. The group facilitation (VISIONS, Inc.) and break-out sessions worked wonders on all, some meeting for the first time. It removed all the inhibitions, and participants opened up. The next three days were extremely educational, with lots of lessons to be learnt and many friendships to be established."
~ participant from Tanzania
"The conference was highly productive with the introductory session mediated by a group of facilitators who walked the group through issues one needs to take into account when engaging in any intercultural enterprise. This was greatly beneficial and should be mandatory for events of this nature, leading to a greater level than usual of introspection and genuine engagement."
~ participant from South Africa
from The Food Project - Fall, 2010 "happenings" newsletter:
"VISIONS Continues to Help Us Live Our Values
... Just as we have always recognized the importance of diversity in our crops, we also stand
behind multicultural diversity within our organization. When we bring communities together
around food, the goal is to connect people who otherwise may not meet in today's fragmented
society. To better explore and understand what our focus on diversity means, we have worked
with VISIONS, a national multicultural training and consulting organization based here
in Boston. VISIONS has trained The Food Project for the last 12 years, strengthening our
knowledge of and commitment to diversity.
... When they leave the program, we hope the youth view social issues in a new light and feel empowered to find solutions to injustices within the food system and between people.
VISIONS has helped to maintain our focus on diversity across our youth programs as well
as in staff training.... Through our collaboration with VISIONS, The Food Project is proud to be on a continual journey to further equity in the food system, in our organization, and in the communities we serve."
"My VISIONS journey continues and continues to enrich my life and work – people need this at all 4 levels of oppression and change."
~ participant in 4-day workshop
"Wonderfully supportive and informative experience"
~ participant in 4-day workshop
"Now it is back to reality where I can put my new skills and sensitivities to good use. Tuesday I met with our Black Student Union regarding our health services, their needs, etc. It went really well!"
~ School Based Health Care Policy Program 4-Day Workshop Participant
"... the positive impact of the experience has not faded and will be remembered for a lifetime. School nurses aren't usually in the position to receive such quality, experiential training. It was a once in a lifetime experience for me and I treasure it."
~ School Based Health Care Policy Program 4-Day Workshop Participant
"I have grown from the experience and have already experienced application to my professional role."
~ School Based Health Care Policy Program 4-Day Workshop Participant
"In March, it will be ten years since I participated in my first VISIONS training, a four-day workshop. As you know, that workshop had a profound effect on my life and led to the founding of our town's Multicultural Network. I shared with my children my idea of making a gift to VISIONS on this tenth anniversary of my first training and they enthusiastically supported me. Accordingly, I am making arrangements for a gift of $10,000. This gift underscores my belief in the importance and value of the VISIONS model and my admiration for all you do."
~ Sandy T.
The work, empathy and professionalism that VISIONS demonstrated made a very difficult situation leading up to the February downsizing announcement effective / efficient for our leaders and the broader organization. Clearly this is not the end of the work to be done as we bring our new business model to life, but it is a significant point in the process.
~ Maxine B.
"I am a physician. This workshop taught me about healing."
~ Chris R.
"I liked everything about this training, especially that the facilitators never made us feel bad for the biases we have caught."
~ Bill T.
"The facilitators truly listened to us and each other. They were friendly, smart, warm and caring and were able to diffuse some very emotionally charged discussions."
~ Billy P.
"Would I recommend this workshop to others? Yes, any day and twice on Mondays!!"
~ Mary B.
"I appreciate how you helped me be able to identify where I have gotten myself stuck and now I see how I can address it. I feel a sense of empowerment to move myself and consequently my work."
~ Leslie M.
"We saw some breakthroughs. Working together better creates better results, better ideas, and makes for a more robust and efficient organization."
~ VISIONS Program Participant
"I enjoyed the workshop because the consultants wanted the learnings to reach people where they were at, not to preach at them."
~ VISIONS Program Participant
