What we’re about
NOVA Scribes is a free and open forum for visual practitioners to share their knowledge.
We are anyone who uses visuals to move others: consultants and facilitators who use visuals, graphic recorders, scribes, sketchnoters, and others!
We're all volunteers! Anyone who wants to can be an organizer or presenter.
The proceeds from the events go to:
• the presenters,
• charities that support the arts as a means of bridging people and communities such as the Whitethorne Foundation, which brings arts education to indigenous communities,
• honorariums for new graphic recorders to practice scribing our events, and
• scholarships to bring new attendees to events like the IFVP conference.
We have organized classes, graphic jams, open spaces, and webinars to share skills and learn from each other. We record our webinars for anyone to watch later, and if you're interested in presenting a topic, please let us know!
We organize our events using the Meetup app. You can find us at www.meetup.com/NOVA-Scribes
It's free to be a NOVA Scribes Member; please join us!
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Ampersand Gathering 2025The Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, Washington, DC
🚀Register at https://www.ampersandgathering.com
Join us September 10 - 12, 2025, in Washington, DC, for the 3-day Ampersand Gathering - an event centered around connection, learning, and experimenting!
We are bringing together facilitators, coaches, instructors, instructional designers, consultants, and creatives from the DC metro area.
We are crafting the Ampersand Gathering to be a hands-on event where we connect and learn from each other, try out new methods and ideas, and collaborate and experiment with new modalities and tools in a casual, energizing space.
🚀Learn more & Register at https://www.ampersandgathering.com
- Group Facilitation Training | Liberating Structures methodNeeds location
🚀 Register and more info here ... [paid, in-person training]
In this hands-on 2-day training, facilitation experts Lee Gimpel and Adriano Pianesi will teach the art and science of leading dynamic groups using Liberating Structures. Liberating Structures is a powerful toolkit of 33 modular, participatory methods that help groups engage, collaborate, and generate results.
Whether you’re brand-new to facilitation or an experienced practitioner looking to expand your toolbox, this session offers hands-on exposure to methods that foster inclusion, creativity, and clarity. You'll experience more than a dozen practical, flexible structures in real time and reflect on how to integrate them into your own practice – whether you lead meetings, workshops, strategy sessions, or large events.
You’ll learn how to:
- Use Liberating Structures to unlock better ideas and participation
- Choose facilitation structures that match your goals and group dynamics
- Combine methods to shape full meeting or event agendas
- Apply LS alongside other frameworks you already use
In addition to those with a “facilitator” job title, this this training is great for managers, community leaders, people in innovation and collaboration roles, consultants, project mangers, and event organizers. Whether you’re looking to make meetings more productive, conferences more engaging, or workshops more impactful, this workshop will give you tools you can use right away.
- Lee Gimpel leads the DC Liberating Structures Community of Practice and is the founder of Better Meetings.
- Adriano Pianesi teaches leadership and change at Johns Hopkins University and is known for his practical, creative approach to group facilitation.
📍 September 24–25 in Washington, DC
🎟️ Bring a friend for half price with code “bringafriend” (until August 15)
💬 Discounts available for nonprofits, government employees, and solo practitioners🚀 Register and more info here ... [paid, in-person training]
