Spring Workshops

Our workshops are built around real public sector challenges.

Our team has spent decades helping people and organizations solve complex public sector problems. We know how to create impact aligned with your mission even when goals are unclear, rules are rigid, and change is hard.

You will leave our workshops with practical tools to pinpoint the right problems, align your interest-holders, and make real improvements to public-facing services and internal team processes alike.

All Spring 2026 workshops run 12–3 pm ET / UTC-5 on Zoom, offered as two series: May 12-14 and June 16-18.

Workshops 2026

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Problem Framing | Tue, May 12 or Wed, June 17

Are you solving for the right problem? This workshop offers a set of practical methods to cut through the noise, identify the root cause, and align your interest-holders around what actually needs to change.

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In this workshop, you will practice applying the lessons to a real challenge of your choosing.

You’ll learn to:

  • Get to the root of a problem, rather than focusing on the symptoms.

  • Turn vague mandates into clear, actionable goals

  • Align interest-holders with competing priorities around a shared understanding

  • Reduce institutional risk by grounding work in the actual challenge

You’ll walk away with:

  • A proven method for navigating complexity in public sector environments

  • Hands-on practice applying the framework to a real challenge from your own work

Why this is important:
Jumping to solutions before fully understanding the problem is one of the most common and costly mistakes. Problem Framing will help you build trust, responsibly manage resources, and often make things easier for the people you are meant to serve.

$249.00
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Journey Mapping | Thu, May 14 or Tue, June 16

Do you know what it’s actually like to use the services you deliver? This workshop introduces journey mapping, a practical tool for revealing how people experience public services so your team can identify gaps and make targeted, meaningful improvements.

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In this workshop, you will practice applying the lessons to a real challenge of your choosing.

You’ll learn to:

  • Map experiences from the perspective of the people your program serves

  • See services as part of a person’s full path toward a goal, not just a transaction

  • Know when and why journey mapping is the right tool

  • Get started on your own journey map with confidence

You’ll walk away with:

  • A foundational understanding of journey mapping as a strategic practice

  • A visual tool for communicating the human reality of service delivery to leadership and partners

Why this is important:

The challenges of delivering public services can be so complex that we forget about the experiences of both the public and those serving them. Journey mapping makes that experience visible and actionable, helping you better shape experiences that are consistent with the goals and values of your service and organization.

$249.00
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Challenge Mapping | Wed, May 13 or Thu, June 18

Is your team reacting to problems or solving them? This workshop gives you a framework to map how challenges connect, prioritize where to focus, and align with your team as you move forward.

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In this workshop, you will practice applying the lessons to a real challenge of your choosing.

You’ll learn to:

  • Distinguish root causes from surface-level symptoms

  • Map how challenges connect to each other on a single page

  • Reframe narrow technical problems as broader, mission-aligned opportunities

  • Build shared understanding across teams with competing priorities

You’ll walk away with:

  • A clear logic framework for approaching complex civic challenges

  • The beginning of a challenge map applied to a real problem of your choosing

Why this is important:

Organizations are often torn between the big-picture problems their mission focuses on and the practical realities on the ground. Challenge mapping helps identify tangible opportunities with direct potential for mission-critical impact, enabling better interest-holder alignment and confidence in the actions your team is taking to deliver on your mission.

$249.00
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Workshop Add-On: Advisory Hours (3 hours)

Advisory hours extend the workshop experience and deepen your learning by applying methods to your specific context, challenges, and team. Work one-on-one with our team to apply what you've learned during the workshop(s).

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Advisory hours are for the practitioner who is ready to move from concepts to more concrete action and wants a thought partner with real public sector experience.

This version of Advisory Hours is only available as an add-on to a workshop. Each participant can purchase up to 2 sets of Advisory Hours (6 hours total) for each workshop they attend.

To learn more about standalone Advisory Support options, contact us at hello@civicdesign.co.

$250.00

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What to Expect

Our virtual workshops are designed to be practical, engaging, and grounded in real public sector work. You will learn alongside a small cohort through a mix of guided instruction and hands-on activities.

Public Sector Application

Designed for civic-minded practitioners, these workshops center on real challenges across the public sector - government, nonprofits, philanthropy, and consulting. You will work with tools and examples that reflect the complexity of these environments.

Expert Guidance

Workshops are led by experienced practitioners and grounded in real public sector practice. Sessions are thoughtfully paced with light breaks to help you stay engaged and apply what you learn.

Active Learning

Expect a mix of individual reflection and collaborative group work. Participants are encouraged to keep cameras on during interactive portions to support connection and clear communication.

Small Cohort

Each session is capped at 25 participants and led by two instructors to ensure a focused and supportive learning experience. You will have space to ask questions, share perspectives, and learn from peers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Note that the pricing and refund policies apply to both sets of dates currently offered and may change for future classes

  • We are committed to inclusive delivery and will work with you to ensure full participation. Please communicate any accommodation needs in the checkout form or email hello@civicdesign.co before the session.

  • All sessions are hosted via Zoom. You will need a stable internet connection and a device capable of running Zoom’s desktop or web client. We will use common word processing and Zoom’s chat feature for "heads-down" activities.

  • While not required for the workshops, we strongly encourage participants to have cameras on during collaborative exercises to help build rapport with instructors and peers and maintain non-verbal communication.

  • Every session is three hours long (12 - 3 pm ET), including scheduled light breaks to prevent screen fatigue.

  • We keep preparation light. You will receive reflection prompts prior to the session to help you arrive ready to contribute, but there is no time-intensive "homework" required.

  • Before the workshop, participants will receive a welcome email with worksheets and an overview of what to expect. Anything shared during the session will also be available to you afterward.

  • No. To maintain a safe and private space for candid peer-to-peer discussion, we do not record our sessions.

  • We don’t currently offer discounts. However, we offer a limited number of free seats to those seeking learning experiences but are unable to pay. If this applies to you, email us at hello@civicdesign.co for details on our lottery process.

  • Cancel for a full refund or reschedule (subject to availability) up to 7 days before the class start. Transfer your registration to another participant up to 3 days before the class. To cancel or transfer, email hello@civicdesign.co.

Participant Reviews

Past participants have spanned the full civic landscape (from local, state, and federal teams to nonprofits and consultants), highlighting the broad relevance of this work.

They consistently found the workshops highly relevant and immediately useful, leaving energized, confident, and eager to apply and share what they learned.

“I valued the relevancy and hearing from other folks in the room. We're all working in similarish ways on dissimilarish areas, so it's helpful to hear how this framework applies to other areas.”

— Participant, State Government

“[Challenge Mapping] helped me re-understand an issue that I thought I knew. It helped me step back and focus on the root of the issue instead of jumping ahead many levels.”

— Participant, Federal Government

“I liked that it was small enough for conversation, and… the facilitators did a really good job in creating a comfortable environment over Zoom.”

— Participant, Local/City/County Government

“[Journey Mapping] gave me another tool to use in my practice… It is perfect for getting to the root of things, helping to imagine possibilities, and decision-making.”

— Participant, Nonprofit/ NGO