Why does it matter?

March 24th, 2010 by Lora Dow

By Lora Dow

One of the more popular exercises in our Blue Flame Case workshop is one where we challenge participants to describe what’s going on in a picture. Here’s an example:

You might start out with the obvious:

This is a group of kids and a counselor.

This is a camping program.

This is our youth group on a field trip.

But then you could dig a little deeper, talking about how that activity ties to your organization’s mission, your purpose in the community. You might say:

These are young people getting their first taste of independence at our day camp.

This is a camp counselor learning to be a positive role model and leader.

This is a group of city kids getting to experience the wonder of nature.

Don’t stop there, though. The next question to ask is “why does it matter?” These great things are happening, but why is it important? What would happen if this program went away? What would your community be like if your organization disappeared tomorrow? This question gets to the heart of why your mission, your work, matters.

Without our camp, these kids with chronic illnesses would not be able to have the same camping experience as other kids their age.

These kids earned a chance to go to camp by the hours of volunteering they offered to their community.

History is coming to life for this classroom of first graders on their field trip to the scene of a Revolutionary War battle.

This is a great exercise to do with staff, volunteers and other supporters. It helps to articulate what you do, and, more importantly, why it matters.

Try it for yourself. Tell us what’s going on in these pictures, and why it matters, in the comments below.