Confronting Power Dynamics and Engaging the Community’s Voice in Collective Impact

Plenary discussion at the 2016 Collective Impact Convening with Sili Savusa – White Center Community Development Association, Paul Schmitz – Collective Impact Forum, LaShawndra Vernon – Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (LIHF) Collaborative, and Akilah Watkins-Butler – Center for the Study of Social Policy. This session was held on June 8, 2016.

About this session: What are pitfalls and principles of practice in effectively integrating community voices into collective impact? How can you involve communities who have historically been left out of decision-making processes? How should funders, backbone leaders, and other collective impact partners engage stakeholders in sensitive conversations about race, class and culture? This session will address these questions and more in a discussion of when and how to confront power dynamics and authentically engage community voices in collective impact. Hear local and national perspectives on community engagement, and engage with your peers on what it takes to achieve community engagement as a core component of collective impact.