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 worked with Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and Wells Fargo in planning and facilitation of the Building Bridges Collaborative conference. As part of the project, Collective Impact assisted 7 regional affordable housing and community development collaboratives in team building and assessing their needs and identifying priority strategies to address those needs. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has been an advocate for communities in Georgia since its creation in 1977. For four decades, DCA has helped communities spur private job creation, implement comprehensive plans, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions, and promote volunteerism.
"Bruce Decker has provided excellent service to Habitat for Humanity of West Virginia for the past 5 years. Bruce has always presented a positive, encouraging, and high-energy attitude with all of our projects. I highly recommended Collective Impact." ~ Lora Pierce – Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of WV, Charleston, WV
