Our Story
Stratiscope was founded on the belief that harnessing the power of community engagement can maximize an organization’s ability to reach its goals.
John Bwarie launched Stratiscope in 2013 after working with communities and leaders for more than a decade with the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor’s office, followed by three years with the U.S. Geological Survey. In that time he came to discover that the most important aspects of working for elected officials and government agencies were building community and solving the challenges they might face.
With this understanding, John saw an opportunity to introduce organizations to effective community engagement and activation practices that would advance their goals. He launched Stratiscope and began equipping businesses, nonprofits, and government entities to harness the power of community.
“With community, anything is possible.”
A track record of positive results, nationally and locally
Stratiscope’s first years were rooted in principles of building resilience and working with scientists and engineers, particularly around earthquakes. In an early engagement, we created the Southern California Disaster Risk Reduction Initiative—developing the concept, convening the leaders, and releasing the subsequent Strengthening SoCal Report, which still serves as a guiding document in the region.
Stratiscope also helped establish a partnership between noted earthquake expert Dr. Lucy Jones and then-mayor Eric Garcetti, which resulted in the most sweeping earthquake safety legislation of its time, as laid out in the Resilience By Design report.
Other early work included strategic community engagement work with The Natural Hazards Center University of Colorado at Boulder, the American Geophysical Union’s Thriving Earth Exchange (TEX), and the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California.
We have also focused on good governance, having been asked to take the helm of the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments. Simultaneously, we demonstrated our ability to develop a nationwide community impact and engagement program through our work with Lucky’s Market.
Directing our attentions locally, we formed the City Impact Lab in 2014 to focus the community building and engagement efforts of those working to effect specific, positive changes in Los Angeles. (When the pandemic hit, we moved City Impact Lab online—and the conversations have been no less energetic and engaging.)
Our focus and expertise: Effective community engagement and activation
Stratiscope has grown to become one of the few firms anywhere that is focused on true community engagement and activation, as well as individual and team training in community engagement strategy and practice. Corporations, nonprofits, and government entities seek us out to help them address their critical, ongoing brand challenges of relevance, reputation, and resilience.