Communication

Goal: We are committed to creating new opportunities for partnership, mentorship and stewardship through revision of our internal and external communication processes. Along the way, we will work to establish a safe channel for honest dialogue with leadership.

This cornerstone addresses how we can better connect with a variety of storytellers—as well as with those who might benefit most from seeing themselves on stage. In addition, we explore how we might democratize internal communication, given the varying levels of digital acumen staff wide, as well as the reality that many theater jobs involve little digital activity. Eliminating barriers to arts participation—both for those who create and for those who consume the work—will help further our art form as a not-for-profit arts and community organization whose programming seeks to reflect its city.

Action: Deepen existing relationships with BIPOC community leaders, arts organizations and kindle authentic new connections

Description: The Goodman maintains these relationships across different departments including, but not limited to, Education and Engagement, Development and Marketing/Communications. This action involves ascertaining the ways each department cultivates these relationships in order that we might expand on them.

Status: Efforts are ongoing; work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Foster deeper connection and conversation with audiences

Description: Though the circumstances of COVID-19 prevent us from opening our Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement, we are working to facilitate virtual programming that better tells our story as “Chicago’s Theater Since 1925” and communicates our efforts as a not-for-profit arts and civic organization.

Status: Digital efforts are ongoing: work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Audit, support and sustain community partners

Description: Towards establishing shared value systems, we will work to build awareness of partners we work with and share that information with audiences.

Resources:

Develop a scaffolded institutional tiers/types of community partnerships with partner benefits.
Aggregate all partnership information and create partnership levels to better serve sustained community partners
Work cross-departmentally and with our community partners to fill seats at our performances and give more access to our guests.
Re-establish the Community Liaison staff position.

Status: Efforts are ongoing; work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Increase access to free and discounted programs

Description: The Goodman understands the importance of giving back to the communities we serve. It is an institutional priority to find ways to continue to expand our commitment to free and discounted public programs, most recently evidenced by A Christmas Carol—An Audio Play and Fannie Lou Hamer: Speak On It! offered free of charge to Chicago audiences. Other free or reduced-rate initiatives include “Share the Joy;” accessible programming; sensory friendly performances; Blue Star; Spanish Translation; New Stages; and our commitment to Season of Concern.

Status: Digital efforts are ongoing: work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Create digital space to improve internal communication

Description: To improve internal communication and transparency for all staff, we will work to establish a digital create a digital space to disseminate information. This can include updated Goodman policy information or serve as a space for individual staffers’ professional/personal work.

Status: Efforts are ongoing; work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Publicize staff involvement in outside organizations

Description: We acknowledge the many talents of our staff and we commit to supporting their work as artists and citizens in the City of Chicago beyond the Goodman.

Status: Efforts are ongoing; work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Develop a system of engagement and communications that does not rely on digital access.

Description: Reach/Engage with those who do not have digital access.

Status: Efforts are ongoing; work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Create opportunities to engage with Indigenous communities

Description: Board leadership and staff are discussing ways to expand programming, on stage and in the community, to develop relationships with Indigenous communities. Goodman staff have participated in the League of Chicago Theatre’s land acknowledgement training workshop; work has begun to cultivate relationships and acknowledge those unseated tribes whose land the Goodman occupies.

Status: Efforts are ongoing; work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Develop an annual survey and host listening sessions of alumni and key BIPOC collaborators, to be facilitated by an external organization, to ensure that we are supporting them in their work and career goals.

Description: In order to improve our existing programs, we believe that engaging with alumni from our Maggio Fellowship, Playwrights Unit, educational programming, Artistic Collective Members and our BIPOC Artists will help improve our policies and practices. We must be prepared for difficult conversations and/or confront past inadequacies, but we commit to taking criticism seriously, and finding ways to make positive change within our organization.

Status: Efforts are ongoing; work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)

Action: Expand non-English language services and offerings

Description: We seek to expand our language services and offerings to ensure our work is as accessible as possible.

Status: Efforts are ongoing; work to be continued by the Cornerstone Task Force (CTF)