Cultivating Open Networks for Nurturing, Engagement, Collaboration and Teamwork (CONNECT)

Title of Project: Cultivating Open Networks for Nurturing, Engagement, Collaboration and Teamwork (CONNECT)

Project Period: April 2025 to March 2026

Localities: Southwest Virginia

Funding Source(s): Mount Rogers Community Services Board

Principal Investigator (PI): Cecily Peeples Rodriguez, Associate Director of Research and Organizational Innovation, VTIPG

Key Community Partners: Mount Rogers Community Services (MRCS)

Description of Project:

CONNECT is a transformative cohort program designed to strengthen organizational culture and enhance high-performing teams! In today’s dynamic work environment, fostering a culture of collaboration, openness, and engagement is essential for organizational success. This program aims to provide participants with the tools, insights, and strategies needed to advance a cohesive and energized workplace. Throughout this journey, instructors explore the fundamental principles of effective teamwork, the importance of communication and trust, and how to cultivate an inclusive atmosphere where every team member feels valued. Interactive workshops emphasize experiential learning, allowing participants to engage in hands-on activities, share personal experiences, and collaborate on real-world challenges.

MRCS employees will fine tune skills by learning to pay attention to such areas as integrity, courage, and risk taking and how those skills may be practiced differently during a period of crisis. Additionally, we will explore the art of reflection and how it can bolster employee competence and confidence as well as developing skills and behaviors needed to build solid teams and a unified workforce. By the end of this program, participants will gain a deeper understanding of their role in shaping a positive organizational culture, enhancing team dynamics, and driving collective success.