We shift power to communities because it makes sense \u2014 and it\u2019s the right thing to do. <\/strong>In our conversations, I gathered ideas from attendees around a simple question with complicated answers: Why does this matter?<\/p>\n

Participants shared how shifting power to communities has an economic advantage. If everyone has the opportunity to achieve economically, our communities and country become more stable. People are less dependent on the resources of the government, so those resources can be used in more sustainable ways. Results become more sustainable as well when communities own their agency in determining outcomes. If community members hold the power to determine what outcomes are, the community feels more ownership over the work \u2014 and ownership over continuing the work if resources end. Transferring power to communities also contributes to safety. A lack of opportunity or resources, leading to feelings of disenfranchisement, can create the attitudes and behaviors that may lead to unsafe communities.<\/p>\n

But in addition to these value propositions and more, we work to shift power to communities for more than economic interests or fewer crimes. We do this work because of the moral of justice: It\u2019s simply moral and just to include communities and ensure they have power over impacting their own outcomes. I look forward to hearing and lifting up examples from across the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network of communities and community members owning their agency, from programs to policy, and using their power to improve the outcomes that are most important to them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week, I had the opportunity to join changemakers from across the country at the inaugural Upswell, Independent Sector\u2019s forum for turning ideas into action. At the event, I facilitated two conversations focused on shifting power to communities. During those discussions and throughout the event, I heard examples of the importance of connections and community…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":11022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"categories":[220],"tags":[81],"class_list":["post-11020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-engagement","tag-blog","category-220","description-off"],"yoast_head":"\n