Community Relations Service (CRS)

About Client

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS) is the sole federal agency dedicated to assisting state and local government, private and public organizations, and community groups with preventing and resolving racial and ethnic tensions, hate crimes, community- based culture conflicts, and civil disorders.  Among other services, CRS provides training programs to community leaders, law enforcement, and state and city officials.

Client Organization Supported

Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS)

Objective

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Community Relations Service (CRS) engaged LinkVisum to support CRS in strategic planning, communications, training, and department-wide initiatives. The agency works as “America’s Peacemaker” for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. CRS requested program support to help its Washington, D.C. headquarters staff and field staff with program development, communications, and stakeholder outreach.

LinkVisum’s Solution

LinkVisum facilitated strategic planning sessions with CRS leadership and helped support CRS in documenting and implementing the strategic plan. Our consultants applied their analytical skills, strategic and tactical capabilities, and strategic planning expertise to support CRS in evaluating, tracking, and reporting on progress, mapping and accomplishing goals, and identifying outcomes.

LinkVisum helped CRS staff make a seamless transition to a virtual environment when the need presented and provided training on virtual tools, such as Adobe Connect, to CRS staff. LinkVisum also facilitated numerous virtual trainings to diverse stakeholders across the country.

LinkVisum’s Program Development team also managed the development of new training and program development projects for CRS, developing training outlines, training materials, and training aids. To engage CRS staff, LinkVisum developed the Program Review Committee (PRC) to leverage CRS’s deep expertise in engaging CRS staff at all levels. LinkVisum also developed resources for CRS’s programs and services, such as internal guides and technical assistance and consultation documents.

LinkVisum designed and implemented a process and standardized form fields in Adobe PDF that facilitated ease of data entry and data extraction for analysis and reporting.

LinkVisum facilitated CRS stakeholder management activities by identifying conferences, events, and presentations where CRS staff share the CRS mission and value and create printed assets for stakeholder groups, consistent with the CRS fiscal stakeholder outreach plan.

Our team collaborated with various components across DOJ to develop and launch a new department-wide Hate Crimes website. We facilitated working group sessions to gather and develop content and created an engaging, dynamic website to showcase department-wide efforts to address hate crimes.

The LinkVisum communications team planned, researched, developed, and refined communication materials, such as talking points, press releases, web and social media content, presentations, fact sheets, newsletters, and a style guide. Our team also researched, wrote, and designed the agency’s Annual Report to Congress, using CRS’s internal case management database and working directly with employees in the field to develop content. The team redesigned the CRS website and maintained it. The new website incorporated user-friendly designs, highlighted CRS’s services and programs, and ensured adherence to justice.gov website standards.

Outcome

LinkVisum has provided strategic program and communications planning, training development and support, and website development and maintenance to support CRS’s mission as it was expanded by Congress.

Organizational tools designed by the LinkVisum team led to better alignment of case data with the agency’s case management database and a more comprehensive analysis of state, regional, and national priorities.

LinkVisum continues to help CRS grow by developing social media content and implementing website enhancements to ensure over 1 million followers and visitors were able to find information, request assistance, and share feedback.

Developed the 2021-2025 CRS Strategic Plan and Annual Reports to Congress

Developed new training programs and revised existing training programs approved by the U.S. Attorney General’s office

Collaborated with components across DOJ to develop and launch a new department-wide Hate Crimes website

Used data from Twitter and Google Analytics to inform strategic social media messaging and increase the number of followers each year; also,

applied data analysis of Google Analytics to enhance the CRS website and Hate Crimes website, increasing visitor traffic since 2018 to over 1 million visitors in March 2021

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Additional Project Details

This multi-year contract was awarded from OPM’s Best in Class contract vehicle Human Capital and Training Solutions (HCaTS) to LinkVisum for support of DOJ’s Community Relations Service. The work requirements reflect CRS’s unique mission and priority on training and facilitating the development of mutual understanding and agreement in communities as alternatives to coercion, violence, or litigation. With LinkVisum’s support, CRS has professionalized and standardized the training and facilitated dialogue programs delivered to law enforcement, schools, and diverse communities across the United States. In addition to supporting implementation of training solutions nation-wide, LinkVisum supports CRS in completing a number of other comprehensive and critical projects which facilitate the agency’s delivery of services and outreach, align with Department of Justice initiatives, and fulfill the legislative mandate established under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

About LinkVisum

LinkVisum Consulting Group is a woman-owned company that provides a full range of management consulting services to government agencies and private industry. We are an ISO 9001 certified company with an approved DCAA accounting system. Our staff possess significant skills, advanced degrees, and relevant certifications, garnering numerous exceptional ratings on Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS).

Fatimah Moody
CEO
LinkVisum Consulting Group, Inc.

Fatimah Moody co-founded LinkVisum Consulting Group, Inc., in 2007 to apply her passion for providing exceptional client service, creating innovative solutions for modern business, and working in collaborative environments. She has more than 25 years of experience leading teams to assess key human capital business challenges and in designing and implementing effective, sustainable business strategies. Her expertise includes strategic planning, organizational and leadership development, intervention design, process improvement, and change leadership. A trusted consultant, leadership coach, and organizational development professional, Ms. Moody has successfully advised many organizations in both the public and private sector. Prior to founding LinkVisum, she was a Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, responsible for change management and strategy for the Federal Government sector.

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Michelle Amante
Vice President of Federal Workforce Programs, Partnership for Public Service

Michelle Amante currently serves as the Vice President of Federal Workforce Programs for the Partnership for Public Service.  In this role, she works with agencies to research and find solutions to challenging human capital issues such as employee engagement, workforce planning and talent recruitment and development.

Before coming to the Partnership, Michelle served as the Director of the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and worked in public sector consulting for Deloitte in their Labor and Workforce practice.  She has deep experience in project management, systems integration, business process transformation and employee engagement.

Michelle has Bachelor of Arts degrees in International Relations and History from Syracuse University and a Master’s of Public Administration from the George Washington University.  

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Christine Lawrence
Christine Lawrence
Director
LinkVisum Consulting Group, Inc.

Ms. Lawrence brings more than 15 years of experience assisting organizations in the design and implementation of strategic programs including training and development, workforce planning, organization design, process improvement, selection, performance management/assessment, succession planning, change management, and communications. Ms. Lawrence is a project management professional (PMP) and is highly skilled at managing complex client projects.

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FirstNet

LinkVisum has provided human capital support to Department of Commerce, First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) since the creation of the public-private partnership. In response to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)/Office of Personnel Management (OPM) memorandum in June 2021, FirstNet contracted LinkVisum to support with an organization-wide survey to capture employee feedback regarding return-to-work perceptions, concerns, and expectations. Employee feedback was compiled into a senior-level briefing and served to inform changes and updates to remote and telework policies and forms. LinkVisum supported the effort to modify the telework agreement for all employees, develop an annual telework form for supervisors and employees to sign, and initiated the project plan for managing the creation of a remote work arrangement policy and guidance. This new policy will be introduced according to a communications plan based on change management and change adoption strategies. To read more about LinkVisum’s work with FirstNet, Click Here

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Department of Transportation OST-B

[12:28 PM] Maryam Nozary

Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs (DOT OST-B) sought assistance from LinkVisum to support the goals of retention of talent, re-engagement of staff, improving communications, and supporting employees and supervisors as they transition from primarily remote workspaces to the hybrid work arrangements approved by DOT and Office of Management and Budget (OMB)/Office of Personnel Management (OPM). LinkVisum helped to facilitate a virtual strategic planning session for division leaders to identify process improvements, operational efficiencies, technology systems considerations, and workforce planning in preparation for the return to the office and anticipated increase in hiring. To read more about LinkVisum’s work with DOT OST-B, Click Here

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Department of Transportation PHMSA

Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT PHMSA) contracted LinkVisum to help with updating the PHMSA Onboarding Experience in the form of three checklists. Each checklist was specific to each of the new re-entry to work arrangements. These checklists were created for both employees and supervisors to utilize and track the various tasks that need to be completed during the new hires’ first 30 days, first three months, and first year of their federal employment. To read more about LinkVisum’s work with PHMSA, Click here

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Dr. Russell Robinson
Founder of Amplified Research and Consulting LLC

Dr. Russell Robinson is the founder of Amplified Research and Consulting, LLC, which provides research, analysis and consulting solutions regarding employee engagement, voice and silence, and talent management. 

Russell has spent over twenty years as a civil servant within the US Federal Government. In his current role as the Senior Advisor of Training & Engagement of an agency’s component, Russell provides solutions to improve the workforce experience; and help leaders inspire and influence those within their span of control. Additionally, Russell is an adjunct professor at American University where he teaches graduate-level leadership.

Russell received his Doctor of Education (EdD) degree in Human Organizational Learning from the George Washington University. He received a Master’s in Public Administration from American University’s Key Program, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Dayton.

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Donna Powell
Senior Advisor of Management Directorate for the U.S. Department of the Treasury/Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP)

Donna Powell is a Government Leader recognized for delivering direct and influential leadership to develop sustainable programs and facilitate change; which includes successfully managing enterprise-wide human capital programs and improving organizational effectiveness.  She is a Senior Advisor in the Management Directorate for the U.S. Department of the Treasury/Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  She works multiple programs and projects, including organizational change management and personnel transition planning.  

Prior to joining BEP, Donna worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).  In addition to working in the DOC/Office of the Chief Information Officer, she was the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), an independent authority within the DOC/National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  At FirstNet, Donna led the daily operations and developed strategic solutions for human capital management, training, travel, employee safety and health, facilities management, logistics and records management.  She successfully led numerous initiatives, including facilitating a 91% organizational growth.

Donna earned of Bachelor of Science Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, Master of Science Degree from Central Michigan University, and a Master Certificate in Project Management (IT Project Management) from the George Washington University. 

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