Collective Impact. It is essential to creating a more just future – it is the compass for a path forward and the hard-earned destination itself.
Many use the phrase “collective impact” but the idea got more formal attention after a 2011 article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The authors, Fay Hanleybrown, John Kania and Mark Kramer, noted that “the complex nature of most social problems belies the idea that any single program or organization, however well managed and funded, can singlehandedly create lasting large-scale change.” The authors pointed out that successful collective impact requires a shared goal approached through structured, coordinated, measured, and well-communicated work.
While all of these elements are vital, we at YWCA SEW believe there is an indispensable ingredient for collective success: who is at the collective table. Without including, listening to, and actively engaging the very community most affected by a problem, future building can be a well-intentioned but hollow exercise.
YWCA SEW has been engaging the community – especially the region’s women – for 125+ years. Their varied perspectives have assured that our most notable work has never been done in a vacuum.
Collective impact is part of all the ways we work to eliminate racism and empower women. In this newsletter, we share examples of that collective approach – accomplished, in process, and on deck. We hope you’ll join us, because only together can we #FueltheFuture.
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Your monthly news & updates |
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Cap off 2021 with YWCA Southeast Wisconsin |
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Join us December 9th to Visualize the Just World We Will Build Together |
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Re-think what An Evening to Promote Racial Justice is and can be! Yes, it is about collective impact! What we have done so far and the plans we are making for action in 2022. COVID-respectful protocols will be in place. |
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Sponsorship Opportunities |
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Now Hiring for a Communications & Marketing Manager |
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YWCA SEW’s Adult Ed Program Partners with Racine Unified School District
Offering a new path to high school graduation, YWCA SEW has adapted its robust HS equivalency diploma curriculum and is offering it in partnership with Racine Unified School District to students who are otherwise at risk of not graduating. Using a competency-based model to assess whether students have mastered subject matter, this collaboration complements YWCA SEW’s other high school equivalency programs available virtually to adults throughout the region.
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A recent Racine Journal Times article tells the compelling story |
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Want to know more about the adult education options we offer? |
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Facilitators in Training
Pilot Project Launched in Spring 2021 Builds Racial Justice Programming Capacity
YWCA SEW’s racial justice work includes dramatically growing coaching and consulting services. This work is not as publicly visible as the education and training offered in our community-facing classes Unlearning Racism: Tools for Action© (ULRTFA) and Conversations on Race, but it is all connected. One of our strategies to expand our capacity for a continuum of racial justice programming is to build a corps of facilitators, complementing our staff and established team of consultants.
As previewed in the September issue of YWe Lead, past attendees of ULRTFA interested in supporting our racial justice programming capacity were invited to participate in an intensive train-the-trainer experience in Spring 2021. LG Shanklin-Flowers led the eight-session series focused on deepening understanding of training facilitation, delivery, listening, and recognizing the places where people could think well about antiracism work and places where a hand was needed. Fifteen facilitators in training joined Martha Barry, Paula Penebaker, Rhonda Hill and LG Shanklin-Flowers, all experienced YWCA SEW facilitators. The group included Teresa DuChateau, Andrew (AJ) Tieskoetter, Kori Schneider Peragine, Kelley Salas, Tiffany Meredith, Katie Cox, Kathy Coffey-Guenther, Karole Kimble, Steve Stall, Jenny Toutant, Sharon Grinker, Carolyn Swabek, Sheldyn Himle, Paula Phillips and Rachel McGraw.
Learn more about their experience and some of their reflections here.
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Be Part of the Stand Against Racism Challenge 2022
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This April, YWCA USA and participating affiliates nationwide will share a month-long series of challenges and racial justice resources to support individual and collective work for justice. Built on a model developed by YWCAs in Ohio, the challenge will provoke reflection and provide options for action.
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To make sure you are connected to updates about this collective work, email us at communication@ywcasew.org and include the subject line: Stand Challenge 2022
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Save the Date – Stand Against Racism 2021
The Stand Against Racism Challenge will be capped off with our annual Stand Against Racism events from April 21-24, 2022. The theme will be announced in the coming weeks so stay tuned! We look forward our stakeholders’ input.
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Reflections on Native American Heritage Month
Today, when we speak of collective impact in nonprofit and social sector circles, we presume it is benevolent. But intentional, coordinated, and sustained collective conduct has caused both joy and pain throughout all of human history. We are in the middle of Native American Heritage Month and the collective impact of this nation’s history on indigenous peoples has been tragic and profound. We cannot change the past, but our work to build a just future requires that we honestly examine it.
As many are about to gather for Thanksgiving, if we haven’t already done so, let’s once and for all dismiss the “Pilgrims and the Indians” myth and be grateful for truths: we can learn from the past (even a painful past) and gratitude is never wasted. With gratitude for the opportunity to learn, we offer some resources for Native American Heritage Month:
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Thank you for continuing to support YWCA's mission! |
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YWCA Southeast Wisconsin is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. |
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