Our Approach:

• Relationship-Building: We build relationships with the intention to understand the full background and context of the people we work with. We listen for their humanity, for the connections that may or may not already exist. We seek to understand the historical implications and systemic conditions that have led to barriers an organization and community are experiencing. We listen to understand and build community.
• Navigating Systems: As we listen and build relationships, we seek to understand the patterns that community members are experiencing. We want to know about the external factors and systemic causes of the issues that organizations and the communities they are part of are solving. We understand that if there’s a lack of resources, it’s not the fault of an organization, it’s the fault of the system, and we seek solutions that will meet the needs of the whole community.
• Creative:We design tools and materials that aid grassroots partners in building and sustaining their capacity. Tools and materials are tailored to the needs of our partners — especially those who have a non-traditional organization structure.
• Partnership: We see our work holistically, and as contributing to an entire ecosystem. That starts with the ways we work together. We partner with our colleagues leading advocacy, organizing, and narrative change, and across our team we partner with community members driving change. We understand that when a city is receiving funding for community safety, funding may not make it to the groups that are doing the work on the ground. Our team can advocate from the ground up for equitable and accessible funding.
• Adaptation: We accompany groups holistically and are in it for the long-haul. Rather than coming in to do a project and then leave, we build relationships, implement alongside community members, observe together what's actually working or not, and then adapt and adjust. We never just check things off a to-do list; we always ask about the next step and how we can take them together.

Collapse