We believe that lasting positive change happenswhen businesses, nonprofits, and communities work together as partners. Our approach breaks downtraditional silos and creates the conditions for transformative collaboration through three key elements: a strategic framework for cross-sector impact, a clear understanding of the challenges we face, and proven principles forbuilding effective partnerships. Together, these elements enable solutions thatare more innovative, equitable, and sustainable.
Complex challenges require new approaches. Our strategy combines the strengths of businesses, nonprofits, and communities by bringing diverse partners together and framing challenges to see them clearly, facilitating innovation sessions to reveal new possibilities and solutions, and helping partners stay focused on impact by managing project logistics and sharing outcomes.
The strategy begins with the aspiration of neighborhood transformation. It is an integrated set of choices that cascade to define 'what would have to be true' for those choice to come true. Cascading back up provides a reality check for sufficiency. You can download a copy here.
The heart of transformative change lies in bringing the right partners together in the right way. Creating the conditions for real collaboration that produces sustainable outcomes for communities require that all partners practice core principles:
Traditional hierarchies give way to shared decision-making where resources and influence flow in all directions. Each partner's expertise is equally valued and respected, and business funding never equals greater control. We openly discuss and work to balance power dynamics to ensure true collaboration.
Communities stand at the heart of every partnership. Their local knowledge and lived experience drive priorities and solutions, while their cultural wisdom shapes how partners work together. Community voice doesn't just inform the work – it leads it.
The foundation of our work lies in building genuine understanding and demonstrating respect and cultural humility in every interaction. We establish clear expectations upfront, measure progress transparently, and make course corrections as needed. We are accountable to each other and, most importantly, to the community.
When we seek out and include each person and sector's unique strengths, collective intelligence becomes possible. Business expertise and nonprofit mission focus naturally complement community wisdom. We broaden our perspectives by stepping outside of traditional roles to learn from each other, allowing resources and capabilities to flow freely across sector boundaries.