Spotlight: Jenn at Inclusivv, Formerly Known as Civic Dinners
With a passion for community organizing, Jenn Graham’s mission has always been to unite people around issues that matter like sustainability, mobility and inclusion. Jenn previously organized conferences for TedxAtlanta but felt the communication was one-sided. In an effort to create more meaningful dialogue, Jenn launched Civic Dinners in 2015. The company’s story began as a creative social experiment to draw millennials into the long-range planning process and encourage genuine connections over food and structured conversation on a specific topic. “At most conferences, the audience doesn’t really get a chance to participate,” she said. “If you give the audience a role to play, then they see themselves as a part of the solution, but we have to invite them into that process.” Breaking bread with someone is certainly more intimate than gathering in a large auditorium, and the experience allows everyone to have a voice.
Before the pandemic, all Civic Dinners’ events were in-person. “Civic Dinners pivoted into the virtual world at a time when we needed to feel connection more than ever, especially during peak social isolation, and thankfully, video created the intimacy we needed to recreate the magic of in-person events,” said Jenn. Fortunately, just prior to the pandemic, the company was preparing to scale globally and adapt an advanced high-tech model for its 12-part inclusive series. In addition, Civic Dinners secured a game-changing contract with Facebook during this time. Transitioning from in-person to online events wasn’t the company’s only pivot. In July, Civic Dinners underwent a rebrand, changing its name to Inclusivv
After receiving an invitation to participate in the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, the nation’s first city-funded incubator for women entrepreneurs located on the top floor of FlatironCity, Jenn knew she had an opportunity of a lifetime to propel her business to new heights. Without hesitation, she joined the program’s 2018-2019 cohort and began improving her business acumen with guidance in licensing, financial planning and more. During the program, she formed impactful relationships with fellow women business owners who had experienced similar pain points with their companies. Her biggest takeaway from it was joining a community where women celebrated each other’s victories and uplifted one another through bittersweet growing pains, an experience she describes as “transformative.”
With access to FlatironCity’s amenities, Jenn’s favorite part about being in the building was the communal feel and open layout of WEI’s office. “I loved walking into the Flatiron building, overlooking Broad Street and being in the heart of Atlanta,” she added. “Being on the top floor feels like you own the world - it’s empowering!”
Visit Inclusivv’s website to learn more about the organization’s model for community building through structured conversations or to attend or host your first dinner.
https://www.inclusivv.co/?_ga=2.194428397.111623715.1634843169-8203080.1634589145