In this episode of Natural Collisions, we explore the critical intersection of civic engagement and public policy for nonprofits. What are the most pressing civic issues nonprofits could be focusing on today? How can nonprofits effectively engage to advocate for the communities they serve while remaining compliant with regulations?

The “colliders” for this conversation discuss the challenges and opportunities nonprofit organizations face during election seasons while offering strategies for building coalitions that amplify the voices of underrepresented communities.

GUESTS:
Joan Gustafson, External Affairs Officer, Michigan Nonprofit Association
Regina Bell, Chief Policy Officer, Council of Michigan Foundations
Kamilia K. Landrum, Executive Director, Detroit Branch NAACP

For voting information on the upcoming election visit - https://mi.gov/vote

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:29 - Guest Introductions
05:22 - Civic Engagement Personal Stories
14:52 - Nonprofit's Role in Civic Engagement
26:17 - Collaboration & Coalitions
31:43 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Scarcity and competition hinder the ability to collaborate. While those worries are normal, they stop organizations with common goals from building strong partnerships. How do we change that?

The Dovetail “How We Collaborate” Playbook is designed to provide a framework for organizations and teams to work together more effectively. It helps establish shared values, language, and practices for collaboration, ensuring that everyone is aligned on goals and approaches, equitably.

Access the “How We Collaborate” Playbook here - https://dovetaildetroit.org/playbook-trilogy/how-we-collaborate/

The “colliders” for this conversation bring a wealth of experience in creating shared strategies for collective action and community development in Detroit & SE Michigan. They have been valuable partners in the development of the “How We Collaborate” Playbook.

GUESTS:
Heather Nugen, Director of Systems Transformation at Michigan Community Resources
Shelley Danner, Co-Founder & Program Director at Challenge Detroit
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager at Coact Detroit

The “How We Collaborate” Playbook was created in a partnership between Michigan Community Resources and Co.act Detroit. It emerged from meaningful conversations during the “2021 Detroit Capacity Building Forum: How We Collaborate.” It also draws upon ideas shared locally and nationally about advancing equity and collaboration in the nonprofit sector.

To access the 2021 Detroit Capacity Building Forum: How We Collaborate visit - https://padlet.com/micommunityresources/how-we-collaborate-2021-detroit-capacity-building-forum-bkxqn5rbm5holk7w

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:41 - Guest Introductions
03:22 - Purpose of Playbook
05:27 - Collaboration in Detroit
08:08 - Challenge Detroit
12:30 - The Playbook in Action
24:58 - Best Use of the Playbook
32:16 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Can nonprofit organizations become workplace environments that nurture rest and wellness?

This episode marks the conclusion of our Fund Well Series, which has focused on the importance of funding wellbeing for nonprofit leaders and teams. For more conversations about wellbeing and rest, check out Co.act's Nonprofit Wellbeing Series and the Virtual Resource Library here: https://coactdetroit.org/resources/virtual/.

The “colliders” for this conversation have joined from across the globe - Washington State and London, England - to bring their unique and “radical” ideas to the Co.act Detroit community. This candid conversation challenges the grind and burnout culture prevalent in the nonprofit workplace.

GUESTS:
Jodi Nishioka, Co-Executive Director at BIPOC ED Coalition WA - https://bipocedcoalitionwa.org/
Kate Oliver, Radical Rest Network - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/kate-oliver-96b6a6162

Read Kate Oliver’s blog post on Radical Rest - https://www.anewdirection.org.uk/blog/radical-rest-for-the-cultural-sector

To join the Radical Rest Network visit - https://forms.gle/kaLvPzRRQmgbyQaS7

To learn more about the mentioned book, “Rest is Resistance” by Tricia Hersey, visit - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tricia-hersey/rest-is-resistance/9780316365536/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:11 - Guest Introductions
01:57 - Personal Jouneys
07:54 - Rest is Unique
12:33 - Benefits of Sabbaticals
37:32 - The Radical Rest Network
46:07 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

This special recap Natural Collisions episode highlights the 2022 Detroit Capacity Building Forum. The forum was focused on one thing: investing differently in our nonprofits and our communities.

Conversations about investing often center on funders and those with financial power. When we reframe the conversation to include nonprofit employees, consultants, organizers, social justice advocates, and community residents, we open the way for transformative possibilities.

The goals of the Detroit Capacity Building Forum were:
1 - Explore how our ecosystem can invest differently in organizations, ideas, and people
2 - Honor those working to create more equitable funding landscapes
3 - Create a playbook that redefines investing and guides movements now and for the future

The Detroit Capacity Building Forum was a collaboration between Co.act Detroit and Michigan Community Resources. Hosted by Orlando Bailey. To learn more about some of the resources shared during the forum, visit coactdetroit.org/documents/dcbf-resources.

Sessions:
00:00 - Welcome
02:33 - 12 Recommendations for Detroit Funders
19:59 - Lightning Talk with Lisa Leverette - Nonprofits & Allies
30:02 - Shifting Funder-Nonprofit Power Dynamics
51:22 - Lightning Talk with Vu Le - Nonprofits & Allies
01:10:03 - Closing Information

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

The Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series was designed to build trust and challenge traditional roles and power dynamics between funders and regional nonprofit leaders.

The “colliders” for this conversation were all involved in a series of conversations between funding organizations and nonprofit leaders. These “brave spaces” provided an opportunity for nonprofits and philanthropic foundations to have a candid discussion to develop deeper, more trusting relationships in Michigan’s nonprofit sector.

The Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series was a collaboration between the Dorothy A. Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University and Co.act Detroit, with facilitation provided by The Eureka Group. For more information visit - https://coactdetroit.org/npfd/

00:00 - Welcome
02:18 - Guest Introductions
05:18 - Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series Explained
07:19 - Power Dynamics between Nonprofit & Funders
14:35 - Collaborative Efforts Creating Conversations
17:43 - Shared Recommendations & Discussion
35:50 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

GUESTS:
Maria Salinas, Executive Director - https://www.congressofcommunities.com/
Lesley Slavitt, Executive Director - https://johnsoncenter.org/
Kyle Caldwell, President & CEO - https://www.michiganfoundations.org/
Tameka Ramsey, Director - https://www.tramseyllc.com/
Allandra Bulger, Executive Director - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Investing in Nonprofit Wellness is a continuation of our “Fund Well Series,” a series of episodes focused on the importance of Funding Wellbeing for nonprofit leaders and teams.

The “colliders” for this conversation all play an important role in supporting the wellbeing of the communities they serve. Our guests understand the need to elevate the importance of healthy nonprofit work environments in the sector that prioritizes wellbeing. Join us to explore a few tactics and benefits of a wellbeing culture in the workplace.

00:00 - Welcome
01:23 - Guest Introductions
03:12 - The Importance of Wellbeing
11:22 - Challenges to BIPOC Healthy Work Environments
26:55 - Funding & Fostering Workplace Wellbeing
38:58 - Final Thoughts

GUESTS:
Yolo Akili Robinson, Founder and Executive Director - https://beam.community/
Asia Blaney, Grants Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/
Lily Salas, Community Investment Officer - https://www.kalfound.org/
Terry E. Whitfield, (former) Partnership Manager - https://www.skillman.org/
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Join us for an honest and thoughtful exploration of Wellness, Rest, and Liberation! This episode is an introduction to our “Fund Well Series,” a series of episodes focused on the importance of Funding Wellbeing for nonprofit leaders and teams.

The “colliders'' for this conversation all work intentionally to make the nonprofit workplace a healthier and happier environment. And, they understand that the only way to initiate this change is by being honest about where we are right now. And this conversation gets very honest - so be sure to listen to the very end.

GUESTS:
Kim Johnson, Founder, President and CEO - https://www.developingkids.org/
Heidi Alcock, Director of Grant Development and Communications - https://mcgregorfund.org/
Shamyle Dobbs, CEO - https://mi-community.org/
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
01:29 - Guest Introductions
03:26 - Rest, Wellness, and Liberation Explained
12:44 - Burnout Stories and Solutions
28:02 - Co.act Detroit Announcements
28:54 - The Push for Sabbaticals
46:45 - Final Thoughts
51:52 - Closing Information

Should participatory grantmaking be the new normal? Many funders are shifting decisions from boards to putting the decision-making process in the hands of the community which is most affected. Our Colliders discuss the effectiveness of this approach.

GUESTS:

• Leah Wiste, Executive Director - https://www.miipl.org/
• Rishi Moudgil, Shift Detroit & Former Executive Director - https://greenlightfund.org/sites/detroit/
• Bryan P. Hogle, Senior Program Manager - https://kresge.org/
• Lauren Boone, Grants Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
01:20 - Guest Introductions
02:56 - What is Participatory Grantmaking?
15:02 - KIP:D+ & the Participatory Grantmaking Experience
23:34 - Participatory Grantmaking is a Collaborative Process
28:54 - Final Thoughts