Facilitation

Facilitation

home-stones

For nonprofits and community groups

Visioning
Strengthening
Transforming

Each system contains its own solutions to whatever challenge arises; we just need to know where to look.

In half-day or daylong retreats, I help organizations and groups:

  • identify their unique role and position in the community
  • clarify their vision
  • create a roadmap to accomplish long-term goals, starting with immediate, concrete tasks
  • establish effective “stepping stones” to stay on track
  • ensure that goals are feasible
  • capitalize on the strengths of your staff and board
  • re-energize the organization as a whole

I’m available to facilitate meetings focused on your particular goals and objectives.

I’m skilled at holding the bigger picture while also clearly seeing the smaller details required for true success. I utilize coaching skills and tools learned from Liberating Structures to bring out the best from each person in the room. I draw from over 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit world as a front line staff person, a youth and family therapist, program manager, supervisor, and department director. I’ve also worked extensively with coalitions and I understand both their unique contributions and their challenges.

“To create better health in a living system, connect it to more of itself.” — Meg Wheatley

Contact me for a free consultation to explore your organization’s goals and desired outcomes.

Partial List of Clients

CAYA (Crossroads After School Youth Academy)
Child Care Aware of Washington
Cultural Conversations Group, City of Bellevue
FamilyWorks
Fit and Active Bellevue
King County Developmental Disabilities Division
Kirkland Parks and Community Services Department
Kirkland Youth Council
Passages Northwest
Redmond Human Services Commission
SOAR
YMCA’s Treatment Foster Care Program
Youth Eastside Services

Past Professional Experience

  • Independent Contractor: Eastside Human Services Forum, East King County, WA
    November 2005 to February 2015
  • Co-Founder: Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition, East King County, WA
    October 2001 to August 2010
  • Counselor, Program Manager, Department Director: Youth Eastside Services, Bellevue, WA
    December 1996 to March 2003
  • Research Associate: Towson State University, Towson, MD
    March 1995 to May 1996
  • Outreach Caseworker: The KEY Program, Springfield, MA
    June, 1993 to August 1994
  • Research Assistant: Lab of Social Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
    February 1991 to August 1992

Boards

  • Eastside Timebank, East King County, WA
    May 2014 to Present
  • Rock School, Kirkland, WA
    September 2003 to September 2005
  • East Community Health and Safety Network, East King County, WA
    January 2001 to March 2004
“We are so grateful to have the privilege to work with Debbie Lacy. The community events she has been a part of are transforming for all. She has a calm, supportive manner that encourages connection and brings out the best in people. With Debbie working with us, there is little left to chance.”
-Barb Tuininga, Cultural Conversations Program, City of Bellevue

“I really appreciate that Debbie is a big-picture thinker and a global thinker… At the same time, she very much celebrates the moment, very much is a cheerleader for individuals and that’s kind of a unique combination of qualities, and it’s really made a huge impact.”
Pam Mauk, CEO, Together Center

“Debbie has a natural gift coupled with her education and experience of working with people and work teams to reach their goals and move them forward. She is able to work together with them to clarify their goals and strengths, and they come away excited and ready to take the next step.”
Vicki Drake, Crossroads Community Center, Community Services Supervisor

“Debbie Lacy is a community builder… She’s a convener. We’ve been blessed to have her do this work. Her work with the Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition has been so valuable, and created programs on the Eastside that focus on equity and opportunity for immigrants.”
Paula Matthysse, former Director of the Eastside Community Network