Every year, the Minerva Strategies team gathers in person to retreat, reconnect, and realign as a remote team spread across the country. Recently, our brilliant colleagues Crystal Isbell and marissa lea gaston brought us together in the historic city of Atlanta, Georgia, for a few days of collaboration and connection. Minerva’s retreats offer a meaningful chance to grow as a team, helping us strengthen bonds that can take longer to form in a remote work environment. But it’s a whirlwind experience. With teammates flying in from different locations and time zones, and days packed with workshops, food, and fun, a few days can feel like just a couple of hours by the time it’s all said and done.
After everyone returned home, I followed up to learn which moments from our time together stayed with them the most.
Dori Valerio: Over those two days, our team dived into sessions focused on strengthening our work, sharpening our services, and learning more about our clients. What moment did you find most interesting?
Caroline Hall: I loved hearing from Tanya Washington and Chi Mathias of our clientRights4Children during our Lunch and Learn. It is such a lovely experience to hear from people who are doing incredible work and are eager to share about it, answer questions, and make it accessible.
Marissa lea gaston: It’s rare that we, as a team, get to spend that much time collectively engaged with clients’ work. It’s even more of a rarity to meet someone as passionate and focused and infectious as Tanya. Speaking with the Rights4Children team made it clear how interconnected children’s rights are not only with the broader systems that inform our lives, but also other clients’ work.
Rights4children is a new think tank dedicated to children’s rights research and advocacy. Founded by Professors Catherine Smith, Robin Walker Sterling, and Tanya Washington, who have been working collectively since 2021 to codify children’s rights in the United States Constitution. As Black, women law professors, both personal and professional experiences deeply influence their work. With a focus on education, climate change, families and the juvenile legal system, Rights4Children aims to build a future where children are seen and empowered.
Dori: I really enjoyed the Lunch and Learn too! I also appreciated the dive into Asana. It’s interesting because we use Asana every day and yet there is still so much that we can do with it to improve our processes and workflows. Since that session, I’ve been trying to use Asana more thoughtfully and have played around with setting up projects. I’m curious—what’s one takeaway that you’re applying in your day to day?
Sara Veltkamp: I’m also deep into Asana right now. It was fun to see people’s “Aha!” responses when I shared features of Asana they haven’t been using but could be beneficial in their everyday work!
Kennedy Gregory: I agree. Since that retreat, I’ve been using Asana and Microsoft Teams more efficiently. I have been able to organize and streamline my workflow, so I can stay on top of tasks and complete them in a timely manner.
Joy Portella: I found CoCreate Work’s session about delegation to be a great reminder of how to do this work—it’s an ongoing practice not a “one and done.” That session reminded me of important elements of delegating well, setting expectations, and offering and receiving feedback. I’m trying to keep these top of mind as I move through my days and work with teammates.
Our session on delegation was led by CoCreate’s Chloe Anderson and offered practical tools and thoughtful reflection on what it means to trust colleagues, share responsibility, and stay engaged without micromanaging. It was a helpful reset and a nudge to stay intentional about how we lead and support others in their growth.
Dori: Our team spent a majority of our time in downtown Atlanta and working from CreateATL, a collaborative space located in Adair Park that serves as a hub for creativity, sustainability, and community engagement—and I must say, it was one of my favorite experiences. The way the space juxtaposed creativity and utility blew me away. Tell me what you enjoyed most about Atlanta.
Sara Veltkamp: I really enjoyed being with our team, being warm—Chicago had a particularly chilly spring—and learning more about the Carter Center.
The team was invited to visit the Carter Center by longtime Minerva friend and the Center’s Vice President of Communications, Matthew De Galan. There, we got a deep dive into the Center’s history and how it navigated two years of complex messaging around the health and passing of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. It was an important reminder of the role communications can play in honoring legacy, and guiding people through moments of change.
Crystal Isbell: Connecting with my team members and catching up on life outside of work was meaningful. Cultivating culture also means building relationships beyond the day-to-day, and our time together helped solidify shared beliefs, values, and a sense of connection, especially for new team members. I also really enjoyed the Lunch and Learn session with Rights4Children. It was inspiring to gain a deeper understanding of the impactful research they’re leading and the lives they are transforming. Grateful for the opportunity to learn more about their mission and the important work being done.
The Minerva team wants to give a special shout out to Knight Eye Visuals who helped us update our headshots and team photos!
