Philosophy

The philosophy that underscores the work of Margaret Kadoyama Consulting is the value of diverse perspectives. New perspectives enrich our work and ensure that partnership projects reflect the needs and concerns of community partners as well as cultural organizations and museums.   Valuing diverse perspectives can take many forms, from planning programs that educate audiences about diverse populations, to teaching graduate students about how to more fully involve the community in their work as professionals in cultural organizations, to assessing programs that aim to involve the diverse public more fully.  This value goes hand-in-hand with the importance of developing relationships with individuals and groups in the community to ensure that the organization’s programs reflect the interests, needs and concerns of the community.

There are many internal and external challenges in this process of valuing diverse perspectives, including developing effective ways to incorporate new perspectives into everyday work. Projects are approached strategically, addressing the ways in which cultural organizations and museums can become vital members of their communities.

Team

Margaret Kadoyama, Principal

Margaret Kadoyama's thirty years in the museum profession embrace extensive experience in audience development, community involvement and education strategic planning.  Her success in developing relationships has served a wide variety of community groups.  Her work includes positions with the Department of Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University, San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design, Museum of Craft & Folk Art, California Academy of Sciences, Museum of Oriental Cultures in Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Navajo Tribal Museum in Window Rock, Arizona.  Her professional roles have included museum director, audience developer, educator, consultant, and associate curator.

Ms. Kadoyama's consulting practice specializes in program assessment, audience development plans, community involvement plans, and strategic education plans, with an emphasis on audience- and community-centered approaches.  She teaches Museums and Communities at John F. Kennedy University, providing students with the understanding and tools to develop and implement strategic plans to more fully involve museums with their communities.   Since 1987, she has developed many programs in the San Francisco Bay Area, ranging from family days to programs highlighting the contributions of diverse communities.  She is active nationally, serving as chair of sessions at American Association of Museums (AAM), Western Museums Association (WMA), and California Association of Museums (CAM) conferences, and as program chair for national and regional museum educator groups.  Her activities locally, regionally and nationally give her a broad-based perspective of the issues facing museums, especially as they strive to be vital members of their communities. 

Associates

Associates include community leaders who have worked with museums and cultural organizations, consultants whose specialties enhance the value to the client for the specific project, diversity specialists, and leaders of cultural organizations who have expertise in successfully addressing community involvement.

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