Key Factors for Impactful Community Collaboratives

Autonomous and Adaptable Listen to Community

These Collaboratives are self-governing, make their own decisions about how to carry out their respective missions, and are able to quickly adapt to changing needs, growing demands, and internal or external upheavals.

Collaborative members work hard to cultivate compassionate listening as part of their culture and be responsive to the unique communities they are each serving. Listening to and then responding to community needs are central to their work.

Centered on Compassion Trusting Relationships Group Collaboration

Like a north star, the ethic of compassion serves as a guide for orienting the members of the Collaboratives. The value of compassion oriented the head, heart and hands of the members interviewed.

Collaboratives members work hard to build strong bonds of trust, internally, through processes of shared vulnerability, caring and transparency. The trust they have in each other helps to create caring cultures within the Collaboratives.

Many Collaborative members shared that they were drawn together for a cause. They recognized a need and came together based on that need. They formed groups with strong identities and shared purpose.

“We are unified by a shared vision and a sense of urgency to help those in need. We are agile, and make moves organically. People are open to each other’s ideas.”

-Volunteer, SACRD

“Listen. Learn. Ask questions with respect.”

-Volunteer, VISTA “ ...from your first contact, whether on the phone or inperson, you show you are someone who wants to listen.”

- Staff, The Health Collaborative

“Compassion is like water; it gets through the cracks down to the level of need. It is like a soothing tea when you are sick.” - Volunteer, VISTA Collaborative

"Each person in the Collaborative matters! If you want to keep people involved for 25-30 years, you need to make room for them and their lives. This weaves a level of trust that endures for a long time..." - Volunteer, Compassionate SA

“We are stronger together.”

"Building relationships to support and inspire others to develop ideas and sustain effort - like in a dance, the collectives move like a dance” - Volunteer, EcoSA