The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies faced the challenge of unifying and strategically guiding the activities of its Place Matters Health Equity Initiative. The goal was to create a comprehensive strategic roadmap that could align the diverse efforts of the initiative’s teams across the United States, ensuring that both national and local objectives were met effectively.

The Place Matters Initiative is a national effort led by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies to address health inequities through policy, systems, and environmental change strategies. The initiative engages teams in various regions to promote health equity and social justice. As the initiative expanded, it became clear that a more coordinated and strategic approach was needed to maximize impact and ensure alignment across different levels of the organization.

Symphonic Strategies was engaged to facilitate the creation of a strategic roadmap for the Place Matters Initiative. Our approach was designed to bring clarity and focus to the initiative’s goals, provide a structured framework for action, and foster collaboration among the initiative’s diverse teams. The process included a one-day strategic planning session, stakeholder interviews, and the development of a visual roadmap that would guide the initiative’s activities over the coming years.

The project was executed in several key phases:

1. Project Initiation and Pre-Planning: We began by finalizing the scope of work and conducting a series of pre-planning activities. This included reviewing internal documents, conducting pre-meeting conversations with key stakeholders, and developing the meeting agenda and materials.

2. Strategic Road Mapping Session: We facilitated a one-day strategic road mapping session at the Joint Center’s headquarters. The session involved 24 representatives from various Place Matters teams who collaborated to identify strategic destinations, routes, and milestones for the initiative. The agenda included discussions on collective action, the framework for the national roadmap, and the identification of key landmarks and vehicles for achieving the initiative’s goals.

3. Post-Meeting Follow-Up: After the session, we provided the Joint Center with comprehensive meeting notes, action steps, and a visual diagram of the Place Matters strategic roadmap. This visual roadmap captured the key themes and strategic directions discussed during the session, serving as a blueprint for future actions.

The strategic road mapping process resulted in several key outcomes for the Place Matters Initiative:

- Unified Vision and Goals: The process helped to clarify and unify the vision and goals of the Place Matters Initiative at both the national and local levels. This alignment was critical for ensuring that all teams were working towards the same overarching objectives.

- Actionable Strategic Roadmap: The visual roadmap and strategic plan provided clear, actionable steps for the Place Matters teams to follow. This roadmap included specific destinations, routes, and milestones that would guide the initiative’s efforts over the coming years.

- Enhanced Collaboration: The road mapping session fostered collaboration among the diverse teams involved in the Place Matters Initiative. By bringing together representatives from different regions, the session helped to build a sense of shared purpose and collective responsibility.

The success of the strategic road mapping process was driven by a thorough and inclusive approach that engaged all key stakeholders. By providing a clear and actionable roadmap, Symphonic Strategies helped the Joint Center's Place Matters Initiative align its efforts and set a course for sustained impact in advancing health equity.

Is your organization ready to develop a strategic roadmap that aligns and enhances its efforts? Contact Symphonic Strategies today to learn how our tailored consulting services can help you achieve your strategic goals.