#WickedProblemsinWellness: Food Justice and Health Equity
In a world where abundance coexists with scarcity, where farmers’ markets flourish in affluent neighborhoods while food deserts persist in marginalized communities, the issue of food justice stands as a stark reminder of systemic inequities. Food justice encompasses every individual’s right to access healthy, culturally appropriate, and sustainably produced food. However, reality paints a different picture—socioeconomic status, race, and geographic location often determine access to nutritious food. Health equity reflects
Key Lessons for Sustained Collaboration Funders
Through the Nurturing Nonprofit Collaborations report, philanthropic funders can learn about the importance of sustained collaboration, identify the features of a quality application, and hear success stories from organizations nationwide. Grantmakers can learn critical lessons about sustained collaboration from this report. Here are a few key takeaways. The report is based on original research by NNSI founding director Michelle Shumate. After the original screening of 58 projects by Sustained Collaboration
How Conveners Shape the Future of Collaborative Networks
Navigating modern social challenges, from educational disparities to environmental crises, requires innovative, collaborative strategies. Purpose-oriented networks have emerged as crucial platforms to unite diverse organizations to take collective action against these complex issues. Despite their growing importance, a significant knowledge gap persists around how these networks evolve and sustain their efforts amidst inevitable changes and challenges. Enter the role of conveners—the linchpins of these collaborative networks. Conveners are the orchestrators
Nonprofit Organizations Increasingly Form Alliances to Achieve Social Impact Goals
In today’s landscape, the intricacy and scale of many social impact challenges demand innovative approaches beyond collaboration between two institutions. As a result, nonprofit organizations are exploring ways to build large-scale alliances and networks. By harnessing the power of multiple organizations, social impact leaders can pool resources and expertise to address systemic issues more effectively. The Sustained Collaboration Network’s (SCN) report Unlocking the Power of Sustained Collaboration, authored by NNSI’s
Arts Access Demonstrates the Value of Shared Project Collaboration
After witnessing mass layoffs of art reporters at the Dallas Morning News, Jennifer Altabef had an idea. It was 2020, and Altabef, a National Public Radio Affiliate KERA board member, wanted to develop a solution to fill the void of art coverage in Dallas. An enthusiastic supporter of the arts herself, Atlabef decided to introduce KERA President and CEO Nico Leone to DallasNews CEO Grant Moise. KERA and The Dallas
#WickedProblemsinWellness: Financial Wellness in Systems of Care
“The first wealth is health.” American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson stated this in 1860, and it continues to ring true today. But what exactly is the link between wealth and wellbeing? Health is considered one of the most critical pillars of everyday life, and finances are often regarded as equally essential. Traditionally, discussions around health primarily revolve around physical and mental wellbeing, often overlooking the profound impact of financial wellness