Table 2.
Key Themes from Key Informant Interviews.
| Theme | Reported Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
| ||
| 1. Mission Statement | Guide the strategic planning and processes of the organization. | 1. "Well I think they need to, if it’s [just] starting, they need to have a really good mission. They need to be really specific and very strategic with their mission ... You've got to build that sense of a relationship with the community and sure that what you're focusing on in your mission has a value within that community and that culture. (A)" 2. "Clear mission statements and goals are important to guide the overall process of not just operational planning but also day-to-day planning ... I found that clear mission statements also help with boundaries and declining projects that aren’t in line with B's missions and goals. (B)" |
| 2. Supportive Leadership | Catalyst for action and progress. | 1. "[The most frustrating thing], for me its just, people saying, "no we won’t do that. No that is not a good idea, you know it is a board driven organization. (C)" 2. "And we have a fantastic Board that’s all committed to the mission. We're all engaged which makes a huge difference. (A)" 3. "Making sure you have a good board, you have to have a good board, you have to have a board that is active ... there's boards that are working boards and that’s what we have, your board has to work, they have to raise money, and they have to help you with events. (D)" |
| 3. Physical Space | Place where members, volunteers, and participants can meet to engage with each other and the FBCOs programs. | 1. "Moving, which was also recent development, moving over to this ... was a pretty big accomplishment for us, it fits what we're doing. (D)" 2. "What I would love to see green corn do, I would love to find some land where we could to do our own community garden. (A)" 3. "Now with this new space, we're actually sitting in it, the Teaching Kitchen. It’s allowed us to really expand our work beyond the free classes so we can offer one-day cooking classes at a low cost to folks who've been asking to THK (The Healthy Kitchen) classes. (B) |
| 4. Communication | Traditional and digital media provide outlets for FBCO to connect with those intended to serve. | 1. "I've learned that dialog is very important. And I think what I mean by that is, as I think as nonprofits sometimes we get caught up with doing, doing, doing and just growing numbers wise. And something that we're trying to do more here at (B) is really focus on going deeper versus going wider. And a lot of that has to do with just dialog. Internally, just really allowing space and time to reflect on the work we've been doing, the work that we want to do so you know, really just reflection. (B)" |
| a. Social Media | A "powerful" way to "get the word out," but has limitations. | 1. "[Social media is] the main way we promote anything. I've not yet thought of advertising In any of the older ways. (D)" 2. "You know social media reads our newsletters, things like that. Maybe attends our classes, but there's still this other sector that’s just I feel still not heavily involved with us in our say, the way our programs are led. (B)" |
| b. Digital Mailing List | To "stay In touch with people the best we can" with minimal cost and Increased reach. | 1. "Yeah it’s an email mailing list. It’s cheaper to do that. A lot cheaper. No stamps. (D)" 2. "We'll send newsletters out about what we're doing and have more pictures of what we do, posting I think helps. (A)" |
| c. Face-to-face | To build personal connections with those unable to be reached otherwise. | 1. "Yeah, I just go out there with a clipboard and walk around and chat. (A)" 2. "If you, you go shopping at a farmer's market you actually interact with the person who grows your food. So you're really putting a face to this tomato, you know. (B)" |
| 5. Partnerships | A strategic way to spread and share resources and build connections within the community. | 1. "We partner with a lot of schools, community centers, shelter things like that, that not only for our gardens but to use as a sense of education. (A)" 2. "We have great support at like the (local food organizations), a lot that we are very similar In mission, we partner together. And where we are not, we don’t ... (A)" 3. "We kind of share the burden to partner together to help that food system. (A)" |