Starting with Dirt and Seeds
From time to time, someone asks if I have a business card, name, or website. So, after being an adult educator for more than a decade and an independent contractor for the past three years, I’ve started something new and launched a business name and website for those who would like more information, a new way to connect, or a way to understand a bit more about the services I offer.
How do you create a name for something that identifies what you do when the projects have different outcomes, goals, responsibilities, reporting, and regularly involve different people or organizations? Rather than connecting to specific tasks, Trellis Pathways connects to a set of broad principles for supporting learning and development for people and organizations, tailored to individual and group needs.
As I pondered what to call this – whatever it is I do – I continued to come back to the ideas of supporting growth and development.
So, here you go:
Trellis – A structure for support and development
Pathways – A journey, direction, and progress
Welcome to Trellis Pathways' first journal (blog) post!
Growing plants or starting a garden can be a little messy. In gardening, you need the medium (dirt) and seeds to grow stuff, and sometimes support to get the best possible outcome. And, regardless of how much effort you put in, sometimes things don’t go just as you hoped… learning often starts with a little messiness, too.
This journal provides an opportunity to share a bit about what matters to me as it connects to adult education. My career has primarily focused on workforce development – whether job readiness or upskilling, supporting language learning and workplace culture development, or coordinating projects that support and connect individuals, organizations, and underserved groups. I’ve developed and facilitated leadership workshops and resources, built content for sector-specific training programs, and worked with local and regional partners on resources and training options to support newcomer integration into the workforce and community. I try to bring examples that help convert theoretical concepts into practical applications, incorporating and extending discussions that are connected to both the theory and practice of effective communication skills.
My learning journey has always needed support. I like knowing stuff, but sometimes learning is hard, and we all need encouragement, support, direction, and sometimes challenge and correction (or redirection). Even when ready and willing, learning new ideas and unlearning ideas that aren’t helpful takes effort, and the right support is important.
If you are looking for support for your learning journey, please let me know, and I’m happy to help! Together, we can brainstorm around what you or your organization needs. In the past year, I have had the privilege of supporting organizations discover how to align teamwork and collaboration skills with organizational values, connect emotional intelligence and performance management, address difficult conversations in performance management, and consider the importance of understanding culture and the connection to distracted workers and safety. If you have a program and it needs new ideas, updated activities, or resources, I can help. And, if I’m not the best resource for what you need, I will connect with a partner or an expert consultant from my network who can help us.
Growing together,
Dana
