Before you can begin to collaborate, you must find out to whom are you talking–and the only way to do that is to engage in a special form of talking: dialogue. Here are some tips on how to do it well.
The More Things Change? Disinvestment the Wrong Way Around
Sometimes, things don’t change–and sometimes they get worse. Funding going to grants for racial and ethnic minorities has declined not simply proportionally, but in absolute terms in recent years.
Collaboration: A Generosity of Spirit
The editors set out a definition of what we mean by collaboration—it’s a practice more than a discrete action.
Strategic Restructuring: “The Survival of the Fitting”
The possibilities for organizational structures and relationships are limitless. We present a collection of innovative structural responses to sticky quandaries.
When Collaborations Go Bad
Being strategic about collaborations means knowing when to say “no.” Sometimes the purpose of the collaboration or nature of your partners precludes beneficial outcomes—find out when to back out gracefully.
Regionalism: Who’s in the House?
We present a quick look at an emerging way of thinking in community economic development: metropolitan regionalism. It’s a case of collaboration following necessity, as problems such as employment, transportation, housing, and health transcend traditional boundaries of jurisdiction, discipline, and sectors.
The Large-Scale Event as a Tool for Jump-Starting Change
Dialogue need not take place between only two people—in fact it is a necessary part of events that bring together en entire cross-section of a community to establish common ground and move forward toward solutions to common problems.
Future Search: Finding and Acting on Common Ground
One social-change oriented method of conducting large-scale events is future search, which has been used successfully all over this country and the world.
Restoring Hope to the Future Through Critical Education of Leaders
Education has always been the means to change society—here’s a story about one person’s mission to help create a populist revolution among leaders everywhere.
Exploring the Barriers to Movement-Building
Trumpeting of the “new” social change movements aside, what’s really going on? McCambridge finds there may be less social change than meets the eye. Plus ça change…
Getting in the Game: The Work of the Board in Collaboration
Renz reminds us that it’s not only silly but dangerous to leave boards out of collaboration—they need to be there to help shape strategy, bring a wider community perspective, and provide accountability, among other important roles.
Direct Democracy: Who’s Benefiting, Who’s Deciding?
Ballot initiatives are appearing in increasing numbers across the country. What are their effects on your constituents, and what can you do about it?