The end of the year is a natural time for many to reflect and, dare we say, evaluate(!) the previous 12 months. At IG, 2024 was our first full year as a worker-owned cooperative. We continued to dig into what it means to operate as a co-op and use Teal self-management practices. We expanded how we consider equity as an organization and as evaluators in our work. To wrap up the year, we asked our team: “What did you learn in 2024 that you are carrying into 2025?” Here are some of their answers that we hope might inspire you too:
“Through my work developing an engaging and accessible toolkit for federal agencies to evaluate their public participation and community engagement, I learned about the power of combining expert knowledge with clear design in a written product. The two elements have to work together in order to unlock effective communication!” – Alice Markey, Writer & Communications Assistant
“I learned to think about what type of answers participants will have to a question in advance to inform how to ask the questions, so it gets to the core of what we hope to learn. This could help bring to light biases/assumptions and help avoid causing more harm to the people participating. Relatedly, I want to constantly remind myself that there are people behind the data – humanizing the data and my work. In my role as an evaluator, I work with lots of data of different sorts that were entrusted to IG, and it is important to be thoughtful and careful in how I portray the data in visuals and through stories so that we can see the people behind the data.” – Kia Her, Senior Consultant
“Through my role on the IG Co-op board, I’ve learned more about the importance of focusing on the communities you are part of and can impact most. As a board member, I’m representing all my fellow members. As Secretary for the Board, I am also a knowledge-sharer with my colleagues so they know why decisions are made and are informed in their decision-making. So much of the change we’re anticipating in 2025 feels out of my control. I will lean into my learnings from 2024 to continue to care for the communities and people in my sphere where I can have more of an impact.”– Dan Goldstein, Senior Marketing Associate
“My learning from 2024 is to deeply examine urgency by considering what is truly urgent and where we can introduce time and space in our work. I am learning that a slower pace allows the work to flourish AND supports our team members, internally and externally.” – Karissa Propson, Senior Consultant
“From a project with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, I learned more about food systems and the people who work hard to produce the many foods that are so conveniently available to me in stores. Now I think differently and more appreciatively about the food I eat! Also, from becoming a first-time mom this year, I learned about new parts of myself that I didn't know existed before --and that IGers have each other's backs when we each take time to tend to our families!” – Katherine Lymn, Senior Writer
“2024 was a year of constant learning for me— my first full year of being a mom, advancing from Associate Consultant to Senior Consultant at IG, and taking my first-ever dance class (adult beginner ballet!), among many additional day-to-day project learnings. As for what I’ll carry with me in 2025, I will continue to look for areas of learning, big and small, and take time to reflect and celebrate progress.” – Mary Kojima, Senior Consultant
“Cooperatives have such potential to positively disrupt traditional systems that otherwise concentrate power through decision-making and wealth. This year I have learned so much more about the ways cooperatives increase inclusion and inclusive decision-making and the small-but-mighty network of other cooperatives. 2025 is the International Year of the Cooperative, and I can’t wait to keep finding ways to bring models of system disruption—from evaluating systems to facilitating groups to make change—through our work.” – Sara McGarraugh, Management Team – Consultant + Practice Relationships
What did you learn in 2024 that you are hoping to carry into 2025? Reach out on social media and let us know!