To provide strategic guidance and governance for the work, 2Rev and Virginia Beach created a Community Advisory Group (CAG), made up of 18 local community stakeholders, including district leaders, community members, educators, and parents.

The CAG acted as a thought partner throughout the entire process, providing a diverse mix of experiences, expertise, voices, and perspectives. CAG members helped inform local decisions regarding elements like outreach and engagement and resource allocation, and were part of the initial decision-making regarding the topics chosen for the prototyping networks. The group attended the final prototype exhibition when participants pitched their solutions to an audience of stakeholders from across Virginia Beach’s community.

“What I have learned here has very much infused the way I relate to my employees. It’s very much informed my attitude about management. Most specifically, the fact that we need to be looking at alternate viewpoints and alternate ideas. We need not just assume that our mindset is the predominate or most successful viewpoint.”

— Duff Kliewer, CAG Member

Mr. Kliewer is the leader of a local architecture firm in Virginia Beach. In addition to joining CAG, he is part of Virginia Beach Vision, a group of 120 business owners who are very interested in the long-term vision of the city. Public education a… — Mr. Kliewer is the leader of a local architecture firm in Virginia Beach. In addition to joining CAG, he is part of Virginia Beach Vision, a group of 120 business owners who are very interested in the long-term vision of the city. Public education and vocational education play a huge role in that.

Kimberly Ann Melnyk, another CAG member, is a parent, school board official, and local business owner. “[Virginia Beach] is a really strong community. I have lived here my whole life. We own a business and it’s been in business since 1950. We are an… — Kimberly Ann Melnyk, another CAG member, is a parent, school board official, and local business owner. “[Virginia Beach] is a really strong community. I have lived here my whole life. We own a business and it’s been in business since 1950. We are an architectural millwork firm. We have 42,000 feet of manufacturing space and employ 55 people. All of my three kids went to VBCPS…In everything that we do and talk about here [with CAG]...what really sticks out is the communication piece. I am thinking about our message: Does our [school board] message resonate? Do people understand what we do and what we offer or not?”