Collective Impact is working with the Joint Commission on Sports Medicine and Science (JCSMS) to engage its membership in the Collective Impact approach. JCSMS serves as a convener and catalyst for cooperative ventures. The Collective Impact approach is a commitment of a group of individuals from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem, using a structured form of collaboration. The concept of collective impact hinges on the idea that organizations need to coordinate their efforts and work together around a clearly defined goal if they are to create lasting solutions to social problems on a large-scale. This approach was highlighted in a Stanford Social Innovation Review article titled “Collective Impact”. More recently, with financial support from the Wallace Foundation, the Teachers College of Columbia University engaged in research relating to collective engagement around education reform. Their report (Collective Impact and the New Generation of Cross-Sector Collaborations for Education) describes the development of cross-sector collaborations and presents findings from a scan of initiatives across the United States. With assistance from Collective Impact, JCSMS membership is exploring how the model might be used to address relevant issues facing their member organizations.

Over the years, Collective Impact has worked on numerous projects with CommunityWorks in West Virginia. Inc. We conducted a statewide housing market study and strategic plan for the organization. Conducted a housing policy funding analysis and provided findings and recommendations of available funding streams and flexible revenue sources to lay the groundwork to increase resources for housing development, preservation, and rehabilitation in West Virginia. Developed several legislative briefs that were used to educate legislatures on various affordable housing related issues in the state. Provided grant writing services to leverage numerous grants for the organization to support its volunteer housing repair program. Implemented our signature Community Design Innovation model with four CommunityWorks member communities. And for five years, coordinated the Affordable Housing Internship Program placing college students with diverse housing and housing related organizations across the state for 12 weeks of intensive service where they experienced a variety of learning activities.

“I landed my current position by making connections through the internship program with Collective Impact. This is an amazing program and was exactly what I needed to progress into the working world. Not only was I able to grow in professional development, I was also able to grow personally through my experiences in this internship. Every single person I met was supportive, enthusiastic and really expressed their want in me to succeed. I would recommend this program to anyone who has graduated college and or is graduating in order to provide their next step into a career. Thank you Bruce Decker and your Collective Impact team for providing this wonderful opportunity!”  ~ Ryan Jefferson-Director, Lincoln County Green Wastewater Project and Former Affordable Housing Intern, Hamlin, WV