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 (4+)
See all- MITRE's Innovation Toolkit WorkshopLink visible for attendees$10.00
Dan Ward was such a hit last time that we’ve invited him back to share EVEN MORE methods from his Innovation Toolkit! This exciting and interactive session will equip you with tools and techniques to drive innovation in your work!
You'll practice structured/visualbrainstorming.
We'll work to identify problems and opportunities for moving the visual practitioner/facilitation community forward.
You'll also get access to toolkit of 25+ problem-solving tools/methods. All proven. All repeatable. All shareable.Dan Ward kick-started the the MITRE Corporations Innovation Toolkit. A collection of tools and trained facilitators. Each oriented around innovative problem solving, collaboration and making a difference.
Prior to coming to MITRE, Dan spent 20 years on active duty in the US Air Force as a military tech guy. He specialized in leading rapid innovation projects, did a couple tours at the AF Research Lab where he helped develop their innovation process.
Dan’s the author of several books. Each full of stories and pop-culture references, combined with deep engineering practices to help people work together to solve hard problems.
- F.I.R.E.: How Fast, Inexpensive, Restrained, and Elegant Methods Ignite Innovation
- The Simplicity Cycle: A Field Guide to Making Things Better Without Making Them Worse
- LIFT: Innovation lessons From flying machines that ALMOST worked and the people who NEARLY flew them
This workshop will be recorded and posted on YouTube for anyone who cannot attend. You can find the YouTube link in the Comments section of this NOVA Scribes Meetup event once the workshop video has been uploaded to YouTube.
If you are interested in graphic recording this workshop for a small honorarium, please reach out to brian@lizardbrain.com. We are only accepting one graphic recorder: please let new practitioners have the experience if you are already an accomplished scribe. One scribe only please: first come, first served!
- Visual Energizers: How to Create Engagement Without the GroanLink visible for attendees$10.00
Visual Energizers: How to Create Engagement Without the Groan
In this online workshop, Sheri Kennedy will share her favorite visual energizers for managing group engagement, encouraging participation, and boosting creativity.
We’ll cover:
- Energizers to build trust and get to know others in the room.
- Energizers that help participants uncover their visual intelligence.
- Energizers to engage your superpowers to notice details and specifics.
- Energizers that draw from metaphors from nature to help with visioning and planning.
- Energizers that recall the fun and creativity of arts and crafts.
- Energizers using found objects, incorporating whatever materials you have at hand.
- Energizers for problem solving and drawing out ideas.
You don’t have to be an artist to join us! Just have an interest in how visuals can help move groups and connect people.
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Sharlene "Sheri" Kennedy is an artist, educator, and recovering graphic designer turned Creativity Alchemist. She founded her business “Fusionary Thinking” in 1999 to combine her love of painting, her understanding of business challenges, and her passion for health and wellness.
Sheri designs and facilitates experiential, goal-based workshops and painting events for teams and groups using tools from art, mindfulness, and business innovation.
In 2020, Sheri started a new company “Applied Visual Thinking” with fellow visual practitioner Debbie DeLue inspired by the idea of making visual thinking fast, easy and fun for anyone regardless of their art background or role in an organization.
Sheri has a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Connecticut, a Ed.M. in Arts in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and recent coursework from Lesley University.
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Sign up for Sheri's Applied Visual Thinking newsletter: http://zc.vg/92YwC
Register for a course on Applied Visual Thinking. NOVA Scribes coupon code to be revealed during the session! A portion of proceeds will be donated to IFVP Foundation.***
You can keep in touch with Sheri by:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-kennedy-1a04981/
https://www.appliedviz.com
https://instagram.com/appliedviz
https://linkedin.com/company/applied-visual-thinking
sheri@appliedviz.com***
This workshop will be recorded and posted on YouTube for anyone who cannot attend. You can find the YouTube link in the Comments section of this NOVA Scribes Meetup event once the workshop video has been uploaded to YouTube.
- How Visual Practitioners Can Advance Planetary Sustainability with Sarah DewittLink visible for attendees$5.00
As a visual practitioner, have you ever wanted to get involved in sustainability or climate work but didn’t know how, or didn’t feel qualified? Many professionals in different sectors want to make a contribution toward a healthier planet, but it’s not always clear how. One of the most obvious ways is to seek out sustainability-focused clients, but that’s not always easy or directly within our control. What if there was another way that was easily accessible to both you and your clients? Aligned with the 2024 Inner Development Goals Summit in Stockholm, this virtual session will introduce a few emerging tools you can use to turn your work into a powerful force for planetary well-being.
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Sarah DeWitt is a systems change leader who guides individuals and organizations through major seismic shifts.
She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, Certified Forest Therapy Guide, and DC Master Naturalist. With degrees in geology and science documentary filmmaking, plus two NASA exceptional service medals for her efforts in science communication, Sarah has made it her mission to center planetary health in her work and her life.
As a life-long learner, she has mastered the art of career reinvention and enjoys helping others make their own big leaps. For over 20 years she has provided a calm presence to leaders navigating high-pressure situations from rocket launches to global acquisitions, emphasizing regenerative practices that promote both human and planetary well-being.
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This workshop will be recorded and posted on YouTube for anyone who cannot attend. You can find the YouTube link in the Comments section of this NOVA Scribes Meetup event once the workshop video has been uploaded to YouTube.
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Sarah will be donating her proceeds from this event to the Whitethorne Foundation, which provides art education and scholarships to indigenous peoples. To find out more and to donate yourself, please visit https://buddywhitethornefoundation.org/
- Drawing Outside the Box: the Art of Process VisualizationLink visible for attendees$5.00
Natalia Tomassini will be reprising the workshop she delivered at IFVP 2024, Drawing Outside the Box: the Art of Process Visualization.
As facilitators and consultants, we collaborate in a variety of business sectors, and we cannot be experts in all of them.
Knowing the fundamentals of business processes, we focus on finding the stories behind those intricate boxes, telling them creatively and emotionally.
Illustrating processes with characters and emotions opens a door to deeper understanding and empathy, crucial in environments where collaboration, effective communication and continuous improvement are essential.
Learning the basic business processes, we can focus our efforts on finding the story hidden in those little boxes and tell it in a creative way that conveys emotions.
Our aim will be to inspire and equip others to transform complex ideas into clear and attractive visual formats, optimizing business processes and improving communication in all areas of your work.
From this workshop, you will understand what a business process is, including its definition, key components, and its importance in the business context.
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Natalia Tomassini "NataTomTeach", a business consultant for more than 20 years, started her career as a visual facilitator in 2018. Since then, she has worked as a graphic recorder, trainer of many visual thinking and visual storytelling workshops, and visual facilitator in a multinational company. Now, immersed in the world of process visualization, she shares with us her knowledge and experience in optimizing business processes and improving communication.
Website: www.natatomteach.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-tomassini/
https://www.instagram.com/natatomteach/
https://www.natatomteach.com/en-que-puedo-ayudarte/***
This workshop will be recorded and posted on YouTube for anyone who cannot attend. You can find the YouTube link in the Comments section of this NOVA Scribes Meetup event once the workshop video has been uploaded to YouTube.
If you are interested in graphic recording this workshop for a small honorarium, please reach out to brian@lizardbrain.com. We are only accepting one graphic recorder: please let new practitioners have the experience if you are already an accomplished scribe. One scribe only please: first come, first served!
The proceeds from this event to the Whitethorne Foundation, which provides art education and scholarships to indigenous peoples. To find out more and to donate yourself, please visit https://buddywhitethornefoundation.org/
