May 16, 2025
The 2025 Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) Annual Retreat, which was hosted by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and facilitated by Root Change, proved to be a resounding success! The retreat brought together 58 fellows, 30 host site representatives, and 14 National Partners from January 27-31 in Puerto Rico. This learning exchange aimed to elevate new practices and transform the field of economic development in the United States (learn more about the ERC program here).
Nearly all participants reported a positive experience. The retreat provided attendees a space for reflection, restoration and planning, and accomplished our goal of strengthening connections and identifying new opportunities for collaboration. The key to our success? We believe it was our process of emergent co-creation, explored below!
Step 1. Co-create the Agenda with Participants
Rather than imposing a rigid structure for the summit, IEDC established a basic flow for the week, and then a committee of fellows, supported by Root Change, proposed and designed participant-led sessions. For instance, fellows led opening and closing circles for the event, and a fellow and host pair took the lead on a session focused on strengthening relationships between fellows and hosts. Co-creation of the agenda not only increased participation during the event, but also made room for diverse facilitators and facilitation styles that resonated with participants. While it takes time and effort to include so many voices, we believe it made the agenda and the overall event run more smoothly because more people were invested in its success.
Step 2. Build in Ample Time for Reflection
The retreat intentionally carved out space for participants to reflect on their 2024 experiences before diving into planning for 2025. A reflective exercise conducted before gathering in Puerto Rico surfaced individual successes and challenges from the past year before moving to solutions and next steps. This pre-work meant that everyone came to the event with something concrete to share, and in-person small group brainstorms synthesized valuable insights to inform future ERC projects. The three reflection steps below proved valuable for first surfacing and then funneling reflections and ideas for visioning and next steps.
- Individual Reflection: Before coming to the summit, participants were asked to reflect on significant moments in their journey thus far, constructing a timeline, or a metaphorical “river of life,” and then answering key questions about where the journey is taking them and what they’ve learned along the way. This creates a baseline of experience that each participant could share with others.
- Group Reflection: Drawing from their individual reflections, small groups of participants then synthesized and systematized their collective experiences to bring core insights to the wider group. Small group reflection allowed for more voices to be heard, while full group sharing allowed for validation and pattern-making within the whole group.
- Visioning: Many “summit-type” events focus on visioning and next steps. We did too, but an important differentiator was how long we took to get there. Visioning did not take place until the third of five days, halfway through our time together. The in-room reality made visioning difficult—the program’s federal funding had been frozen just 24 hours before the meeting began. In this fraught environment, the extra time for reflection, coupled with guided sessions, proved invaluable for dreaming and planning together.
Step 3: Use Tools for Emergent Design
The retreat’s flexible agenda, established before the event began, was also critical for emergent co-creation. Facilitators were able to adapt sessions in real-time rather than having to rigidly adhere to the timing provided in the printed agenda. Additionally, the use of Open Space Technology allowed participants to create and manage their own agenda of parallel sessions around a central theme or question. This approach enabled us to address questions that came up in earlier reflection and visioning sessions.
The power of Open Space lies in its ability to tap into collective wisdom while allowing individuals to follow their passions and needs of the moment. At the ERC retreat, this methodology enabled participants to explore topics in a self-organized fashion. We used Padlet to facilitate Open Space during the event so all participants could easily add ideas (as cards), and then use the “like” feature to “up vote” sessions that would take place later that day.
Importance of Thoughtful Design
The 2025 ERC Annual Retreat demonstrated that effective events don’t just happen—they’re thoughtfully designed with flexibility, co-creation, and reflection built in. By incorporating approaches like agenda co-creation, systematic reflection, and Open Space Technology, event organizers can create environments where meaningful connections form, knowledge emerges, and participants leave energized and equipped for impact.
The retreat’s success offers a valuable reminder that sometimes the most powerful outcomes arise not from fixed agendas, but from creating spaces where participants can shape their own learning journey.
Want to use emergent co-creation in your next event? Be sure to use the checklist below! Contact us for additional resources and consultation on making your next event a collaborative and transformative experience.
*All photos courtesy of IEDC.
