EDMO is a nonprofit afterschool and summer program where kids learn through science, art, and play. Through programs for families and partnerships with schools and districts, we create joyful learning experiences that cultivate kind, curious, and courageous humans.
At EDMO, so much of our work is about relationships.
The relationships we build with kids. The trust we develop with families. The partnerships we cultivate with schools and districts. The connections we create with communities. And, just as importantly, the relationships we build with one another.
Every Slack message, meeting, quick check-in, collaborative project, challenging conversation, celebration, and moment of support contributes to the culture we experience at EDMO.
That’s why how we show up matters.
Professionalism can sometimes sound like a set of workplace rules: what to wear, how to write an email, when to arrive, what to say. Those things have their place, but at EDMO, professionalism is also deeply connected to how we treat people.
It lives in the way we communicate. The way we listen. The way we handle disagreements. The way we ask for help. The way we offer support. The way we create space for different perspectives and experiences.
These everyday interactions help create an environment where people feel valued, respected, and comfortable working together.
And when we approach them intentionally, our values of Inclusivity, Authenticity, and Connection become more than words. They become something people can actually experience.
Connection Is Built in the Everyday Some of the most important relationship-building moments at EDMO probably won’t feel particularly momentous.
They happen when two teammates problem-solve together. When someone takes a few extra minutes to listen. When a colleague checks in after a difficult day. When a team celebrates a win together. When an instructor and site leader connect during a 1:1. When someone says, “I can help with that.”
Our training identifies these everyday experiences, from collaborating and problem-solving to casual conversations, offering support, and celebrating successes, as opportunities to build interpersonal relationships.
Connection grows through repetition.
Every interaction gives us an opportunity to reinforce the kind of workplace we want EDMO to be: one where people can ask questions, contribute ideas, learn, grow, make mistakes, celebrate one another, and work through challenges together.
This is where Inclusivity comes to life. We create belonging through the way we invite people into conversations and make room for their perspectives.
It’s where Authenticity comes to life. Trust grows when we can communicate openly, acknowledge what we know and what we don’t, and show up as ourselves.
And it’s where Connection comes to life. Our individual interactions ripple outward, shaping our teams and ultimately influencing the experience kids, families, partners, and communities have with EDMO.
Healthy Teams Can Disagree Working alongside other humans means we’re going to disagree sometimes.
We bring different backgrounds, experiences, communication styles, ideas, strengths, and perspectives to our work. We’re also working in a field filled with people who care deeply about what they do. Conflict is a natural part of that.
The opportunity is in how we move through it.
One of the most useful ideas from this month’s training is approaching healthy conflict as “us vs. the problem.”
Instead of positioning two people against each other, we can put the challenge in front of us and work on it together.
What happened?
What are we each seeing?
What information might we be missing?
What does the other person need us to understand?
What outcome are we working toward?
That shift creates room for active listening, respectful communication, empathy, and mutual growth.
Strong relationships also give us a foundation for those conversations. When trust already exists, teams are better equipped to speak openly, disagree, step into leadership, and celebrate one another without creating unnecessary competition or tension. Our training encourages leaders to support this by fostering empathy and open communication, recognizing team strengths, creating opportunities for team building, and leading by example.
Courage belongs here, too.
Sometimes courage at work looks like sharing an idea. Sometimes it means asking a question. Sometimes it means having a respectful conversation we’ve been nervous to have. Sometimes it means receiving feedback with curiosity.
And sometimes it means being willing to say, “I see this differently. Can we talk about it?”
Listen Before You Solve Our relationships extend far beyond our immediate teams.
Families and partners experience EDMO through countless individual interactions with our staff. A quick conversation at pickup, an email response, a phone call, or a question at a program site can all influence how someone feels about EDMO.
Every interaction is a chance to build trust.
This month’s training encourages a deceptively simple practice: listen before solving.
When someone brings us a concern, our instinct may be to immediately find the answer, explain what happened, or fix the situation. Listening gives us something valuable first: understanding.
Give someone space to finish what they’re saying.
Make sure you understand what they need.
Acknowledge what you heard.
Then determine what happens next.
Thoughtful, clear communication helps people feel informed and supported, while the way we respond can leave an impression long after the conversation itself has ended.
That applies internally, too.
Listening is one of the simplest ways we can practice curiosity. Instead of assuming we already understand someone’s perspective, we can get curious about it.
Tell me more.
What am I missing?
What would be helpful?
How can we move forward together?
Curiosity creates room for connection.
You Don’t Have to Have Every Answer Professionalism doesn’t require knowing everything.
In fact, sometimes one of the most professional things we can do is acknowledge when we need more information.
Our training reminds us that thoughtful communication includes taking time to gather information, avoiding guesses or promises we can’t confirm, and setting clear expectations about what will happen next.
There’s a lot of trust in saying:
“I want to make sure I give you the right information.”
“I’m going to connect with someone who can help.”
“I don’t know yet, but I’m going to find out.”
That’s authenticity in action.
We can be honest about where we are while still taking responsibility for what comes next.
And importantly, we have support systems for a reason.
This month’s response framework encourages staff to hear a concern fully, acknowledge it, clarify next steps, and loop in support when needed. Staff aren’t expected to navigate difficult or escalated conversations entirely on their own.
Asking for help is part of collaboration. Knowing when to bring in another person is part of good judgment. Supporting one another is part of being a team.
Professionalism Is Something We Practice Together There isn’t one perfect script for every conversation or one communication style that works for every person.
Relationships are dynamic because people are dynamic.
That’s where our EDMO values can serve as a guide.
Inclusivity asks us to consider whether we’re creating space where people feel valued, supported, and heard.
Authenticity asks us to communicate honestly and show up in ways that build trust.
Connection reminds us that our actions affect the people around us and that the relationships we cultivate help shape our collective experience.
And the EDMO Method gives us even more tools.
Curiosity helps us listen before assuming.
Courage helps us engage in conversations that require openness and vulnerability.
Kindness shapes how we communicate, especially when things are challenging.
These ideas aren’t reserved for our work with kids. They can shape how we work alongside adults, too.
How We Show Up Creates the Ripple Culture isn’t created by one training, one meeting, one department, or one person.
We create it together, interaction by interaction.
It’s in the way we welcome a new teammate.
The way we respond when someone makes a mistake.
The way we celebrate someone else’s success.
The way we communicate when we’re stressed.
The way we make room for different ideas.
The way we approach a disagreement.
The way we support someone who needs help.
The way we interact with a family who has a concern.
The way we follow through when we say we will.
Those moments add up.
At the end of this month’s training, the takeaway is beautifully simple: lead with empathy, communicate clearly, use your support systems, and build on the skills you already have.
We each have an opportunity to contribute to the kind of workplace we want to experience. A workplace rooted in Inclusivity, Authenticity, and Connection. A place where curiosity helps us understand one another, courage helps us grow together, and kindness influences how we move through both the easy moments and the challenging ones.
Because how we show up for one another shapes how we show up for kids, families, partners, and communities.
And how we show up matters.
Whether you’re a family looking for an engaging program for your kiddo or a school or district looking for a trusted partner, EDMO is here to help create meaningful learning experiences beyond the school day. Together, we give kids and communities more opportunities to connect, learn, and thrive. If you enjoyed this blog, consider joining our newsletter!
