Collaborative R&D Labs: Southeast Michigan
In partnership with the Knight Foundation
This spring, we launched Track 1 of the Collaborative R&D Labs with two in-person Digital Discovery Labs. Designed to create space for reflection, conversation, and experimentation, these sessions brought together leaders from CultureSource member organizations across Southeast Michigan to explore how digital tools might support their work in new ways. Across the gatherings, participants named pressing questions within their organizations, surfaced assumptions ready for testing, and began shaping small, practical experiments grounded in curiosity and care.
The Digital Discovery Labs are a CultureSource-curated professional development experience, designed to support adaptive changemaking through reflection, collaboration, and experimentation. Each session was facilitated by Chris Genteel, who guided the group through conversations and exercises that surfaced new thinking and sparked practical ideas.
Participants included:
- Christopher Ankney – Director of Marketing & PR, University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Sarah Ayers – Executive Director, Signal-Return
- Elliott Broom – Chief Operating Officer, Detroit Institute of Arts
- Matt Chung – Associate Director of Strategic Marketing, CultureSource
- Bridget Favre – Marketing Director, ArtOps
- Eric Freeland – Vice President of Marketing and Digital, Detroit PBS
- Andrea A. Harp – Chief of Staff and Director of Culture and Community, Michigan Science Center
- Alvin Lockett Jr. – Executive Director, RTTM Community Center
- Rubini Naidu – Founder, Empact
- Brent Ott – Chief Operating Officer, The Henry Ford
- Susan Irene Pepper – Chief Operating Officer, Zekelman Holocaust Center
- Amanda Rogers – Marketing Director, Pewabic Pottery
- Robbie Schumaker – Chief Financial Officer, Detroit Zoological Society
- Olga Stella – Vice President, Strategy and Communications, College for Creative Studies
- Shelia Spencer – Director of Museum Services, Motown Museum
- Eric Woodhams – Director of Digital Media, UMS (University Musical Society), University of Michigan
- Sharri Watkins – Chief Operating Officer, Motown Historical Museum
- John K. Weiss – Director of Strategic Initiatives, Neutral Zone
What Emerged
Across both sessions, participants brought curiosity and candor to the table. Through shared dialogue, reflective prompts, and small group exchanges, several themes came into focus. Many centered on the challenge of working within systems that feel stuck, while still trying to move toward new ways of serving audiences and supporting teams.
”The Labs gave me something I rarely get in my day-to-day, dedicated time to connect with other local leaders who are also navigating digital transformation. It was energizing to exchange ideas, explore new tools and concepts, and test approaches I could bring back to improve workflows at Detroit PBS.
Eric FreelandVice President of Marketing and Digital at Detroit PBS
Participants explored their current realities, surfaced areas of tension, and began to shape early ideas for experimentation. Rather than solving for outcomes, the emphasis was on learning through action and making space for small, intentional steps forward.
Ideas ranged from new approaches to storytelling and internal communication to rethinking workflows, audience engagement strategies, and digital tools. Some teams left with early-stage concepts to test, while others gained clarity on the questions they want to keep exploring.
What stood out most was a shared willingness to slow down, challenge assumptions, and treat experimentation as a mindset, not just a moment.
What's Next
The Collaborative R&D Labs are designed as a multi-track journey. This cohort will continue into Track 2 this fall and Track 3 in the spring, moving from reflection to experimentation and into longer-term practice. Each track builds on the last, supporting participants as they test ideas, make meaning of what they learn, and strengthen their approach to digital innovation and collaboration.
The labs will continue into 2026, creating space for ongoing exploration and connection. CultureSource will provide continued facilitation and support as organizations deepen their work and carry forward the momentum sparked in The 2025 Digital Discovery Labs.
