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.

Collective Impact facilitated an organizational assessment, adorable housing market study, and strategic planning process that resulted in the development of a five-year strategic plan for Southern Appalachian Labor School (SALS). The project better positioned the organization to realize financial sustainability while maintaining fidelity to its mission. The mission of SALS is to provide education, research, and linkages for working class and disenfranchised peoples in order to promote understanding, empowerment, and change. The Southern Appalachian Labor School is committed to developing a real comprehension of the social, economic, and legal structures which affect the lives of the Appalachian People.

"Bruce Decker was assigned to the City of Shinnston as our Community Coach during our participation in Federal Home Loan Bank's Blueprint Communities Program.  Our team was very new to the concept of community development and Bruce was an integral part of bringing us around to the highly effective team we are today.  Particularly while facilitating our efforts to write a strategic plan for the City of Shinnston, Bruce was incredibly skilled in drawing from us OUR ideas of what we wanted Shinnston to become and the steps to get us there.  Our plan won an award in the course of the program and is currently undergoing its third update as we accomplish one goal after another."  ~ Debra Herndon, City Manager, City of Shinnston, WV

Visioning is the first step in a goal-setting or planning process. While mission statements guide an organization or community in its day-to-day operations, visions provide a sense of direction for the long term - the means to the future. Learn More!