Visualizing Mission and Vision: Graphic Recording for LA City RAP's Senior Staff Retreat

Earlier this summer, I had the privilege of joining the Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks (RAP) Senior Staff retreat at the beautiful Equestrian Center in LA. This strategic convening brought together departmental leadership for a high-level conversation about aligning on long-term priorities—and I was invited to graphic record a key session focused on revisiting their Mission and Vision statements.

The goal of the session was clear: transform the existing Mission and Vision—seen by the team as too wordy and abstract—into concise, inspirational, and actionable statements that better reflect the department’s evolving purpose and aspirations. My role was to live-illustrate that process as it unfolded.

A Visual Framework for Clarity

To support the conversation, I designed the visual layout to flow from left to right, symbolizing movement from Mission(the department's current "why") toward Vision (its aspirational future). Using a rocket metaphor, the drawing depicted the Mission as the launchpad and the Vision as the destination—both connected by a dynamic trail representing momentum, alignment, and progress.

This visual not only captured ideas in real time, but also helped participants see their thinking take shape, creating a sense of ownership and collective insight.

Why Graphic Recording Works

Graphic recording goes beyond note-taking—it’s about making thinking visible. For groups like LA City RAP, it provides a shared artifact that reflects the energy and direction of the conversation, helping teams stay grounded in purpose as they move forward.

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