ECHO-Chicago as a Superhub
Just months after our ECHO-Chicago program celebrated our 10th anniversary, we come upon another! In mid-2016, ECHO-Chicago took a big step forward in its place in the ECHO universe: we became a Superhub. One of 14 Superhubs worldwide, ECHO-Chicago is proud to be part of a growing group of hubs that has committed to helping the ECHO movement grow.
There are many activities that being a Superhub entails, and each one is encouraged to find the right balance based on the needs and strengths of the team. One important activity includes providing Immersion Trainings for groups that want to become ECHO hubs. The ECHO-Chicago team has led several of these over the years, for groups both local to the Chicago area and as those as far away as Australia. Each Superhubs’ Immersion Training is unique, but all have similar elements to teach prospective hubs the ins-and-outs of being an ECHO hub including: how to run a session and design a series; how to design ECHO-specific data collection tools; how to recruit for programming; and how to ensure sustainability through funding. For ECHO-Chicago, the trainings—when in-person—also included a fun networking dinner at a local Hyde Park restaurant for participants to get to know one another and the ECHO team! Importantly, the mentorship provided to new hubs doesn’t end after the training, but continues with support as the hubs plan and execute their first series. To continue to stay in touch, we host annual Zoom calls with hubs we have trained to provide continued guidance and a chance for hubs to talk with one another.
Even more than providing official Immersion Trainings, our program has found a niche providing mentoring and short trainings to existing hubs looking to grow and expand their work. As one of the longest running ECHO programs, the first urban hub, and one of the first to use the cohort model for series—rather than an open-ended model— we have been able to share ideas and best practices through various means, from one-off phone calls to day-long customized trainings.
The last piece of being a Superhub that is equally important is that of being a vocal advocate for ECHO programming. For us, that means pursuing avenues for sharing and publishing data, supporting ECHO’s legislative goals by speaking on its behalf, amplifying other ECHO programs on social media, and showing up for calls and conferences that expand ECHO’s reach. We love being part of the ECHO movement and look forward to playing even a small part in its growth now and in the future!
To learn more about the Superhub movement generally, you can visit Project ECHO’s Superhub page here! If you are an prospective or existing hub looking for more training, you can contact our team here!
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