Commonwealth

After CPG completed multiple projects in the town of Lawrenceville, the James Solomon Russell-Saint Paul’s College Museum and Archives (JSR-SPC M&A) approached the team about completing a strategic planning exercise for the institution. JSR-SPC M&A received a grant during the COVID-19 pandemic, whose purpose was to help museums prepare for events of an unprecedented nature. The grant was of particular importance for JSR-SPC M&A’s volunteer staff, as they not only needed to learn how to engage the community in new and creative ways, but they also needed guidance on how to protect the growing archives in the event of future disasters.  

To achieve the client's goals, CPG’s team facilitated a strategic planning workshop with the JSR-SPC M&A board members and other stakeholder engagement. The workshop allowed the Board to identify the museum’s needs and goals; this information was then supplemented by the feedback collected from critical stakeholders. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stakeholder engagement took entirely digital forms, including a survey that informed the team’s prioritization of goals and objectives. Ultimately, all of the collected data led to the development of JSR|SPC Museum & Archives’s 10-year+ planning document.

The strategic planning process began and unfolded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This timeframe not only highlighted the importance of having a plan in place for the future, but it also acted as a model to engage with stakeholders and the Board amidst major uncertainty. CPG remained flexible and creative throughout this process, ensuring various perspectives were represented, and the team was responsive to the client’s needs. As a result, the strategic plan memorializes the good practices already in place and directs the museum toward viable objectives in the future, reaching its intended audience and supporters. The plan was adopted by the Board in November 2022. 

James Solomon Russell - Saint Paul's College Museum and Archives Strategic Plan 2022