Blue Octopus Consulting

10/21/2026

Your mission, staff, board, budget, and community bring competing needs. How do you lead when every option comes with tradeoffs?

TODAY - 3pm – Libbie Mill Library

Dr. Heather Prather, organizational psychologist and board-certified executive leadership coach, is guiding an honest conversation about staying grounded in your values when the pressure is on.

See you there 👉 https://blueoctopus.consulting/the-current/

10/20/2026

When the buck stops with you, taking a break is easier said than done.

Give yourself two hours tomorrow to step back with people who understand. Dr. Heather Prather joins The Current to talk about leading under pressure when every decision comes with a tradeoff.

TOMORROW - Wednesday, October 21 - 3–5 PM - Libbie Mill Library

Make room on your calendar for this one 👉 https://blueoctopus.consulting/the-current/

10/19/2026

A good mission doesn’t make nonprofit leadership any easier.

This Wednesday, The Current welcomes Dr. Heather Prather of WiseUp Coaching & Consulting for Value Added: Where Mission Meets Reality.

We will talk about leading through uncertainty, making difficult decisions, and staying grounded in your values when the pressure is on.

Join fellow nonprofit leaders on October 21, 3–5 PM, at Libbie Mill Library.

Oh - and it’s FREE courtesy of ACP Resources and Blue Octopus Consulting 💙

Save your seat 👉 https://blueoctopus.consulting/the-current/

10/01/2026

September’s Inkling has arrived… in October 🙃

We’re taking a cue from Iceland, celebrating a hometown book hero, and saving you a seat at The Current.

A short read for a busy month >>

09/28/2026

Calling all Virginia florists! 🌼 If you’ve ever wondered what to do when an order doesn’t feel right, join us at The Dogwood Tree in Charlottesville on Tuesday, October 13, 10am-12pm for a conversation about safety in the floral industry.

An anonymous sender or a refused delivery can put you and your staff in the middle of a stalking or harassment situation, sometimes without even realizing it.

Your input will help shape practical resources for floral shops across Virginia as part of an abuse prevention project with the Virginia Department of Health.

Save Your Seat >> https://blueoctopus.consulting/floral-project/

09/22/2026

At last week’s We Rise Together Statewide Convention hosted by The Arc of Virginia, Laura Bennett, Elizabeth Redford, and Suzanne Burns presented “Belonging as Protection: Preventing Abuse Through Inclusion.”

Using lessons from two Virginia pilot programs, they shared how the My Voice, My Choice curriculum can be woven into inclusive community programs and how belonging can be a tool for preventing abuse.

09/10/2026

“We are learning more about communication in a relationship.”

That’s what David said about participating in My Voice, My Choice Inclusive Yoga with his girlfriend, Sabrina.

“We are excited to be in this class together as a couple,” she added. 💙

Their families saw the value, too. They appreciated having a place where David and Sabrina could learn side by side and keep the conversations going at home.

The six-week My Voice, My Choice program, led by Elizabeth Redford and Suzanne Burns at Broad Yoga, combined accessible yoga and mindfulness with practical lessons about communication, boundaries, healthy relationships, and making confident choices.

Designed for young adults ages 16–30 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the program was made possible through Blue Octopus Consulting’s statewide Inclusive Play and Prevention Initiative Collaborative with the Virginia Department of Health.

09/01/2026

Back-to-school season got us thinking about how easy it is to become the person with all the answers and forget what it feels like to learn something new.

Also.... Dave Grohl, field trips, petal-related crimes, 500 rubber octopi, and a few places to be the student again.

Read the latest edition of The Inkling 🐙 https://47597272.hs-sites.com/the-last-person-who-taught-you-something

08/26/2026

This week’s recipe for strategic planning prep:

Step 1: Collect vintage teacups

Step 2: Add tea and treats

Step 3: Make sure the people who will implement the plan have a hand in shaping it

Before we start making recommendations and setting priorities for the new Orchard House Middle School strategic plan, we want to hear from the people who are in it every day.

Staff input is essential. They know what is working, what isn’t, and what ideas have been quietly brewing.

Can’t wait to see this one come together! 🫖 ☕

08/24/2026

The Enchanting Bookmobile's commitment to making books more accessible to children and families across the Richmond region is pretty extraordinary, and we love seeing her work recognized.

Congratulations, Sarah! So very well deserved. 💙

Give The Enchanting Bookmobile a follow, learn more about their work, and see how you can help keep the books rolling! 📚🚐

In 2025, she distributed 2,450 free books, ranging from board books to chapter books.