By Catie Tollefson, GCC vice president of mission and programs

Goodman Community Center’s mission, vision and values remain at the center of the work we do, but have you ever wondered what that looks like every day across the diverse programming we offer and community we serve? The answer to this question is our program model, the Three Cs.

This stands for courage, curiosity and connection. This program model is the DNA — or internal compass — for GCC staff to plan, implement and evaluate core program offerings. Using this model increases program continuity, gives staff a sense of direction and purpose and allows us to be responsive to community needs.

Here is another way to think about our work. If mission and vision are what is on our minds and our values are in our hearts, then the Three Cs program model is work we do with our hands.

What’s on our minds?

GCC’s mission and vision: strengthening lives and securing futures. We envision a community that’s thriving because everyone is valued and has the resources they need to be successful.

What’s in our hearts?

GCC’s values: The center aspires for program excellence centering on practices of justice, diversity, equity and inclusion. We approach these practices with a growth mindset to help us embody the Goodman Six: community, integrity, equity, trust, respect and caring.

What’s in our hands?

The Three Cs program model: Goodman programs create experiences that build on the community’s strengths to foster people’s innate connection, courage and curiosity. We offer these programs so people feel celebrated, supported and empowered to thrive the way they want in life.

Across Goodman’s core programs, we are always thinking strategically about how we can continue to strive for excellence. The Three Cs program model represents years of collecting input from staff, participants and community members. One key that speaks to the quality of this model is how dedicated staff across all our programs — early childhood, after-school for elementary, middle and high school, older adult and the food pantry — see their programs reflected.

The community will continue to hear a lot about courage, community and connection as Goodman programs utilize the Three Cs — both within the individual programs and across the center.

This model allows us to develop a shared understanding and language for excellence in program offerings and to guide program planning, implementation and evaluation.

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