Pre-Conference Workshop

Collective Impact Catalysts: An Experiential Workshop for Those Seeking to Lead or Support Effective Cross-Sector Collaborations in Their Communities

What are the key elements to successful partnerships addressing a social issue?  What does it feel like when multiple stakeholders come together that have significant potential common ground to create social change but very different backgrounds, perspectives, and incentives?  What are the steps to catalyzing or supporting an effective cross-sector initiative in your community?

This workshop will allow participants to experience collective impact first-hand. (“Collective impact” is the commitment of a group of actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a complex social problem.) After giving a brief overview of the collective impact method of social change, David will facilitate two activities designed to spur participants’ thinking about the challenges of collaboration, and how collective impact might be appropriate for their communities.  Participants will leave with an initial diagnosis of their community’s specific assets and deficits, and specific next steps on how to catalyze collective impact.

**Although certainly not necessary, participants may wish to attend this workshop with other conference participants from the same community so that they can work together to analyze the current state of collaboration in their communities and discuss how collective impact might help.
**This workshop will have some overlap with David Phillips’ keynote address, but is designed to go deeper into the “how to” of collective impact.

Co-Presenters

Mary Alice Morgan, Senior Vice-Provost for Service-Learning at Mercer University

David Phillips, consultant at FSG

Last Updated: October 28, 2013