A backbone’s role in a collective is often to facilitate collaboration among partners and help the group make progress toward a shared goal. This can be a complex challenge, as the backbone doesn’t hold formal authority or decision-making power. Instead, it must rely on its central coordinating position to influence, build alignment, and advocate for the collaborative’s mission.

In this new podcast episode, we explore how a backbone can influence partners to take action, without holding a position of authority. We talk with Susan Dawson, the founder and former CEO of E3 Alliance, and author of the new book, Changing Education Systems: Wisdom Gained by E3 Alliance in Driving Effective Change Using Data and Collaboration.

Through her years at E3 Alliance, Susan learned many ways a backbone can influence change. In this conversation, she shares the necessary “best-ats” or core competencies a backbone team needs to activate multiple layers of influence, including:

- Delivering results
- Building relationships of trust
- Having the best data
- Facilitating stakeholders with diverse missions and perspectives
- Being doggedly persistent

The discussion also dives into powerful examples of E3's work, showcasing their own dogged persistence to deliver meaningful results in education for children and families in Central Texas.

Resources and Footnotes

• Book: Changing Education Systems: Wisdom Gained by E3 Alliance in Driving Effective Change Using Data and Collaboration by Susan Dawson
• E3 Alliance
• E3 Alliance Data and Trends Portal
• The University of Texas at Austin College of Education
• The University of Texas at Austin Education Research Center

More on Collective Impact

• Infographic: What is Collective Impact?
• Resource List: Getting Started in Collective Impact

The Intro music, entitled “Running,” was composed by Rafael Krux, and can be found here and is licensed under CC: By 4.0.

The outro music, entitled “Deliberate Thought,” was composed by Kevin Macleod. Licensed under CC: By.

Have a question related to collaborative work that you'd like to have discussed on the podcast? Contact us at: https://www.collectiveimpactforum.org/contact-us/

How can a community shift their economic future?

In this episode, we explore how communities heavily reliant on a single industry can come together to diversify and build a more resilient economy. This kind of transformation is complex and requires collaboration across a broad range of partners to support the wellbeing of the whole community.

We discuss what it looks like to diversify single-industry communities with Heidi Binko of the Just Transition Fund and Sherene Hess, an Indiana County Commissioner from Western Pennsylvania. We discuss the challenges these communities face, including job losses and economic uncertainty, and delve into development strategies that can support diversification, including how to leverage local assets, foster collaboration across communities, and access a variety of funding streams.

This is a helpful conversation for anyone seeking to better prepare your community to withstand economic shifts and shocks, and proactively plan for long-term economic sustainability.

Resources and Footnotes

• Just Transition Fund
• Center for Community Growth
• Indiana County Thrives

More on Collective Impact

• Infographic: What is Collective Impact?
• Resource List: Getting Started in Collective Impact

The Intro music, entitled “Running,” was composed by Rafael Krux, and can be found here and is licensed under CC: By 4.0.

The outro music, entitled “Deliberate Thought,” was composed by Kevin Macleod. Licensed under CC: By.

Have a question related to collaborative work that you'd like to have discussed on the podcast? Contact us at: https://www.collectiveimpactforum.org/contact-us/

Collaboratives based in the U.S. that are working to solve for and reduce disparities in their communities are facing compounding challenges with the current chaotic sociopolitical climate, including sudden funding cuts, mass job losses, mis- and disinformation campaigns, demoralizing messaging from national leaders and those they have deputized, and vigorous attacks on both equity and democracy.

When everything seems to be coming down at once—overwhelming by intention, it feels like a tsunami of Executive Orders, department directives, and social media missives that range the spectrum from unprofessional to potentially illegal (or “extralegal”). The current context feels confounding. What do we do? What can we do?

In a candid and grounded podcast conversation that is both sobering and hopeful, Collective Impact Forum senior advisor Junious Williams talks with Erika Bernabei and Theo Miller (Equity & Results) about this current chaotic time for U.S. collective impact initiatives.

Together, they discuss:

• What it means to assess and mitigate risks right now—individually and organizationally;
• How organizations with more power or flexibility can provide cover and protect others, and how important it is to not “obey in advance.”
• The need for honest conversations amongst partners, including if you have a shared understanding around organization ethics and mission;
• The critical importance of storytelling to counter misinformation and support vulnerable communities;
• How to analyze the current context amidst overwhelming noise;
• How to identify both defensive and offensive strategies to protect and advance equity within the work. (Even if you can’t say “equity” right now at your job.)

Resources and Footnotes

• Equity & Results
• Junious Williams Consulting, LLC
• Responding to Threats and Changes Planning Tool
• Reckoning with the U.S. Election: 10 Reflections and Recommendations for Collective Impact Networks
• Core Principles to Support Anti-Racism in Collective Impact
• DEI, advocacy, and legal resources collected by Junious Williams

More on Collective Impact

• Infographic: What is Collective Impact?
• Resource List: Getting Started in Collective Impact

The Intro music, entitled “Running,” was composed by Rafael Krux, and can be found here and is licensed under CC: By 4.0.

The outro music, entitled “Deliberate Thought,” was composed by Kevin Macleod. Licensed under CC: By.

Have a question related to collaborative work that you'd like to have discussed on the podcast? Contact us at: https://www.collectiveimpactforum.org/contact-us/