The Latest

Contribute. We love to hear your thoughts, your musings and your latest work. Please share with us!
Write a post

Building Individual Capacity to Lead

Posted by Russell Kueber on September 3, 2015

Building individual capacity is a key community development principle, yet how many of us often overlook this step in our efforts? We are so skillful in engaging people in developing a common vision and identifying priorities. We often then move right into a project management approach by defining the best activities to implement, who should do them, what resources we need, timelines, and the type of evaluation methodology required. We also often assume that those involved in change efforts are there because they have passion and they are capable and competent to deliver on whatever they signed up for.

Read More

Aligning Multiple Partners in Collective Impact

Posted by Liz Weaver on September 3, 2015

This article first appeared in the July 2015 newsletter of Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Technical Assistance Coordinating Center.

Read More

Whats Wrong? People are suffering

Posted by Mark Holmgren on August 28, 2015

never understood “don’t shoot the messenger” as the stereotypical retort the messenger must use to defend her delivery of a message. Maybe we need a new cultural utterance like “You know how the messenger shoots those who don’t listen.”

Read More

Muckers, Spouters, and Collaborative Leaders

Posted by Tom Klaus on August 18, 2015

Here we go again. It is the Quadrennial Quest for the next "great" leader of the United States. It is too bad we are fixated on a Presidential leadership model that has not worked well in the recent past and increasingly holds little hope for the future. Are we ready to embrace a different approach to leadership that is a better practice now and in the future?

Read More

Let's lock up the homeless, you know, for their own good

Posted by Mark Holmgren on August 6, 2015

When I think of a "wellness" centre, I imagine a place where one might be able to exercise, see a nutritionist, take a course on personal development, learn more about parenting, or see a counselor. Some of you might imagine a wellness centre as something akin to a health spa where you can spend an arm and a leg to get your arms and legs massaged or exfoliated or poked with acupuncture needles.

Read More

How We Keep the Poor Living in Poverty

Posted by Mark Holmgren on July 19, 2015

It's not that we do so on purpose. Our intentions are good, but how we go about trying to help the poor often ends up keeping them poor.

Read More