Melwood Horticultural Training Center Inc.

Note: The organization did not respond to this question.

Note: The organization did not respond to this question.

Melwood engaged a consultant firm to design, develop and facilitate a leadership development program for 60 front-line and mid-level managers. Each cohort of 15 participants met for six sessions throughout the year. Sessions included four content-based sessions and a wrap-up session. The initial session included a leadership overview, introduction to “big hat/little hat” thinking, performance management concepts, learning goals tied to corporate competency model. Each participant completed a self-assessment (HBDI) and established learning partners. Topics for follow-up sessions included Situational Leadership, Communication, Teams & Trust, Leading Change and a Wrap-Up. Sessions included practical learning opportunities. Melwood, in collaboration with a consultant, overhauled the performance evaluation process to focus on performance management. The new program includes goal setting, check-ins and an collaborative performance evaluation between employee and supervisor.

As an innovator, leader, and advocate, Melwood is passionate about sharing its knowledge and expertise to expand and grow disability employment. Melwood’s external mobilization combines communications, strategic partnerships, and advocacy to achieve our mission, support our participants, and empower our local community. Melwood participates in a number of coalitions to advance shared interests, such as the CEO Commission on Disability Employment, the National Council of SourceAmerica Employers, the Association of People Supporting Employment First, and ACCSES. Melwood partners with our community, engaging aligned organizations, civic associations, schools, and local businesses to collaborate on shared priorities. Melwood advocates for federal, state, and local policies that support fully inclusive workplaces and communities. Melwood launched its official self-advocacy program, Melwood Voices, to give our community a platform. Melwood conducts robust media and communications engagement.

Last year COVID-19 changed the way we all live. As a human services provider, Melwood was forced to pivot in our facility and community-based services. In the height of pandemic, Melwood retrained our program staff to include COVID-safe protocols that followed the many changes in regulations. As Melwood is located in DC, MD, and VA, and in multiple counties, Melwood built and implemented a COVID-19 response plan to keep our staff, participants, and stakeholders safe. This included adding COVID-19 protocols to our daily curriculum and reinforcing those guidelines through both redirection and modeling. Corporately, Melwood implemented a hybrid work model, extending the use of telework to a broader segment of our workforce. We instituted creative communication channels, including virtual town halls, implemented a wellness mobile app to allow staff to easily communicate challenges to HR, bolstered our internal communication chains to allow for quick and easy dissemination of information to participants, their families, and our staff. Lastly, Melwood strengthened communications and relationships with other non-profits, government officials, and other corporate partners to meet the needs of our entire community.