Shawnna Silvius
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What Shawnna Offers

Programs & Services

From keynote stages to community planning rooms, Shawnna meets organizations where they are — and helps them see where they can go.

01

Keynote Speaking

Inspiring audiences to see possibility before it becomes visible

Shawnna delivers keynote presentations that challenge audiences to expand their thinking, embrace uncertainty, and act with purpose. Drawing on two decades of community development, leadership, and civic engagement work, her talks are grounded in real stories and practical frameworks — not platitudes. Whether opening a conference, closing a summit, or anchoring an awards ceremony, Shawnna leaves audiences energized and equipped.

Topics include

  • Visioning & possibility thinking
  • Community and economic development trends
  • Leadership in times of change
  • Civic engagement and public trust
  • Youth leadership and next-generation readiness

Ideal for: Associations, conferences, chambers of commerce, leadership programs, government agencies

02

Facilitation & Workshops

Creating the conditions for real conversation and collective action

VISION™ — From Possibility to ProgressFull-day training workshop available

Great facilitation is invisible — it creates space for the right voices, surfaces hidden tensions, and moves groups from discussion to decision. Shawnna designs and leads workshops that are structured yet adaptive, drawing out the expertise already in the room. From half-day skill-building sessions to multi-day retreats, every engagement is custom-designed for the group's goals and culture.

Topics include

  • Strategic planning and goal-setting
  • Team alignment and trust-building
  • Community visioning and asset mapping
  • Conflict navigation and consensus-building
  • Leadership development cohorts

Ideal for: Nonprofits, municipal governments, school districts, chambers, regional planning bodies

03

Leadership Development

Building the next generation of community-minded leaders

VISION™ — From Possibility to ProgressFull-day training workshop available

Leadership is not a title — it is a practice. Shawnna designs and delivers leadership development experiences for adults, emerging professionals, and youth that build self-awareness, civic identity, and the skills to lead across difference. From multi-month cohort programs to intensive weekend retreats, these experiences are transformational by design.

Topics include

  • Emerging leader cohort programs
  • Youth civic leadership and government engagement
  • Cross-sector leadership networks
  • Personal leadership philosophy development
  • Community leadership and public service

Ideal for: Leadership Nebraska, chambers, foundations, school districts, government agencies, youth organizations

04

Strategic Planning

Turning organizational vision into actionable, owned plans

VISION™ — From Possibility to ProgressFull-day training workshop available

A strategic plan that sits on a shelf is not a strategy — it is a document. Shawnna facilitates planning processes that generate genuine alignment, clear priorities, and the organizational will to follow through. Her approach blends structured frameworks with deep listening, ensuring the final plan reflects both the data and the people who will carry it forward.

Topics include

  • Organizational vision and mission clarification
  • Environmental scanning and SWOT analysis
  • Priority-setting and goal alignment
  • Implementation planning and accountability structures
  • Board and staff alignment retreats

Ideal for: Nonprofits, chambers of commerce, municipal governments, foundations, associations

05

Community Visioning

Helping communities see — and build — the future they want

Community visioning is one of the most powerful tools in economic and civic development — and one of the most frequently done poorly. Shawnna brings a proven process that engages diverse voices, synthesizes community assets and aspirations, and produces a shared vision that residents and leaders actually believe in. The result is not just a document: it is a community that has practiced working together.

Topics include

  • Comprehensive community assessments
  • Resident and stakeholder engagement design
  • Asset-based community development
  • Vision document development and communication
  • Implementation roadmap and coalition-building

Ideal for: Municipalities, rural development organizations, regional planning commissions, foundations

06

Community & Economic Development

Connecting people, place, and possibility to drive lasting growth

Economic development is ultimately about people — their livelihoods, their sense of place, and their belief that the future can be better than the present. Shawnna brings a whole-community lens to economic development work, integrating workforce, housing, entrepreneurship, and civic capacity into strategies that are both ambitious and achievable. She has worked with communities ranging from rural towns to mid-size cities navigating post-industrial transitions.

Topics include

  • Economic development strategy and planning
  • Brownfields redevelopment and community revitalization
  • Workforce and talent development alignment
  • Entrepreneurship ecosystem development
  • Rural and small-town economic resilience

Ideal for: Economic development organizations, municipalities, regional planning bodies, foundations, state agencies

Not sure which program fits?

Every engagement starts with a conversation. Reach out and Shawnna will help you identify the right approach for your organization's goals, timeline, and budget.