Think Visual Meetup with Grace Rodriguez: Creating Space to Create
Think Visual Meetups are monthly in-person events for professionals in any industry looking to expand their visual communication toolkit and be inspired by meaningful stories about the power of creativity and visual storytelling.
Creating Space for Community and Impact
What does it take to turn an empty room — or an unmet need — into a thriving community? Grace Rodriguez is dedicated to helping do-gooders do greater.
A serial entrepreneur with deep roots in public and private sector leadership, community development, and economic innovation, Grace has spent her career transforming ideas into tangible impact. She co-founded Station Houston, a tech startup hub, and Impact Hub Houston, a locally rooted, globally connected impact catalyst and innovation accelerator that hosts Think Visual each month.
At this month's meetup, Grace brings the conversation full circle — back to the space where it all happens — to explore what it really means to build something that lasts.
She's speaking from concrete experience co-creating spaces at Station Houston, TEDx, and the global Impact Hub Network. A few things that stuck with me:
Don't design spaces for people. Invite others to build.
Design for behavior, not just aesthetics.
A room's arrangement invites how people should relate to each other.
Remember to look up! (Seriously — when did you last do that?)
QUESTION FOR YOU: What would you change in your space to make people feel more connected? More included?
ABOVE: A scan of the whiteboard with visual notes from Grace Rodriguez's presentation at Think Visual Houston Meetup.
SUGGESTED MATERIALS
Some drawing materials are provided, so bring a sketchbook, an iPad, or other drawing tools to capture ideas and make them visual!
Think Visual Meetups are monthly in-person events launched in Sydney, Australia, by Alan Chen & Diana Ayoub of Sh8peshifters.
Working with other Visual Thinkers in Australia, India, Norway, Kenya, and Houston, Think Visual! Community is truly an international collaboration.
Perfect for community organizers, consultants, facilitators, educators, counselors, artists, healthcare providers, and anyone who works with people to understand complex systems and make an impact.
