Transcript United Way PowerPoint Presentation Template

Networks for Learning, Networks for Impact:
Leveraging Our Capacity As Conveners
April 29 - May 1, 2015
Agenda & Introductions
• Early Learning Communities – Leveraging Community-Based
Partnerships to Build a Network, by Kim Glidden
• Learning Collaboratives – The Impact of the Social Innovation
Fund on Knowledge Sharing, by Jenny Callans
• High School Turnaround – The Role of Networks in High School
Education, by Asad Muhammad
Learning Objectives
Via content and exercises, our goal is to equip each
attendee to take action upon returning to their “home”
United Way:
• Gauge your own readiness to pursue networks
• Determine a next step for you or your UW
• Consider an education issue your UW might address
using the power of a network
What do we mean by networks for social change?
Networks are simply people connected by relationships.
They occur naturally and are all around us. They’re
inside, outside and between our organizations.
“There is a growing imperative for funders to combine
longstanding instincts toward independent initiative and
action with an emerging network mindset and toolkit that
helps them see their work as part of larger, more diverse
and more powerful efforts. By embracing a new way of
thinking and working that is rooted in shared
understanding and an impact orientation to engagement,
grantmakers can effectively use the power of networks to
grow their own impact as well as that of their grantees.”
Source: Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Catalyzing Networks for Social Change, 2011
Corners: Are you ready to pursue a network?
Go to corner that best describes how you feel about working with
networks for social change:
• A Long and Winding Road
• Carry that Weight
• Come Together
• Run for Your Life
Kim Glidden, Race to the Top Project Manager
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
[email protected]
• Early Learning Communities
Network
• Founded in 2008
• 9 Community-Based Partner
Organizations serving a TriCounty Area including Detroit
• Funded by Public and Private
Investments (State of Michigan,
Foundations, & United Way
Community Impact Funds)
Funding Networks to Drive Social Change
Challenge
Traditional Approach
Network Approach
Build Community Assets
& Drive Social Change
Administer social
services
Cultivate and resource
networks (formal and
informal)
Improve Design and
Decision Making
Gather input from other
non-profit professionals,
consultants, academia
Gather input from
diverse cross-sections of
the community
Share What Works
Lessons learned shared
internally or only in
funder required reports
Disseminate and
accelerate lessons
learned
Mobilize Action
Lead structured
campaigns or one-shot
events
Create infrastructure for
genuine and ongoing
engagement
Overcome
Fragmentation
Bring players to the
same table
Stimulate coordinated
resources and action
Jenny Callans, Ph.D., Director, Early Childhood
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
[email protected]
• Social Innovation Fund Intermediary
• Granted in 2011
• 8 Community-Based Partner
Organizations serving a Tri-County
Area including Detroit
• Goal is to develop the evidence base
for interventions aimed at children’s
developmental readiness, then
replicate and scale
• Knowledge Network & Knowledge
Initiative
Knowledge Sharing and the Social Innovation Fund –
What’s the big idea?
The Federal Vision
• Advance the field
• Build capacity – intermediary &
subgrantee
• Return on investment
UWSEM’s SIF Vision
• Collective learning
• Convening partners for the
good of our region
• Value-add to funded partner
relationship
The Alchemy of Collaborative Learning Networks
Key participants
Scheduling
The right space
Refreshments
Getting started
Relationships
Patience & time
Determination
Trust
Building to an Open Learning Collaborative
What We’ve Learned
What’s worked?
What hasn’t worked . . . yet?
• Responding to partner needs
on topics, time to network,
overall agenda
• Scheduling is a constant
challenge
• Bringing UW resources (money,
speakers) to add value to
funded & unfunded partner
relationships
• Fostering sense of shared
learning – UW doesn’t know it
all, we’re all learning together
• Food!
• Getting the right people in the
room for a given topic
• Building a throughline of
continued learning from
session to session
Network-building: Be SMART About It
1. Think for one minute to identify a SMART goal about an area of
UW work in which you want to build/strengthen a network
2. Write a challenge to be overcome in order to achieve this goal
3. Share your challenge with some table mates and together
generate potential solutions
4. Individually, identify one action you can take when you get back
5. Share your commitment with your table
Asad Muhammad, Director, High School Turnaround
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
[email protected]
• High School Principal Network
• Granted in 2010
• 15 High Schools included in our UWSEM
network of turnaround schools serving a
Tri-County Area including Detroit
• Goal is to share educational best
practices, identify common needs,
analyze performance data, and report out
national and local shifts in policy and
education.
High School Turnaround Initiative
System Context
(linking to the outside)
PLC’s
(creating deep cultures of
continuous learning)
UWSEM Value
Add to
Principal
Network
Data
(building effective & healthy
data cultures)
Capacity-building
(knowledge/skills/ideas/$)
Leveraging Networks Around Education Issues
1. Everyone identify 1 high school education issue that you want a
new or existing network to work on (within
behavior/attendance/academics/graduation/data analysis/policy)
2. From your 1 education issue- Write the name of 3 potential
workshop themes to bring people together around and explore
3. Share your 3 workshop themes with your table and have them
vote for the education workshop that they would “most like to
attend.” Which one is most pressing and engaging for the group?
4. Individually, identify one education-based learning session that
you can plan and hold when you get back with an external group
Themes & Questions
Roses, Thorns & Buds: Stick It to Us!