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What if the secret to lasting health change isn't in your next program, but in how you invite communities to lead the work itself? Drawing from my experiences with over 50 coalitions, this episode unpacks why so many well-intentioned organizations struggle with community engagement and offers a practical roadmap for building authentic partnerships.

We explore the uncomfortable truth about traditional coalition meetings—how they often become information-sharing sessions that waste everyone's time rather than spaces for genuine collaboration. You'll discover why the curse of professional knowledge can blind us to community wisdom, and learn specific strategies for creating welcoming foundations that go far beyond sending meeting invitations. From addressing practical barriers like childcare and transportation to examining our own positionality and power dynamics, this conversation provides concrete tools for moving from consultation to true empowerment.

The episode introduces a comprehensive framework for community engagement that transforms how you approach everything from initial relationship-building to co-creating shared visions. Through participatory exercises like community asset mapping and root cause analysis, you'll learn how to help communities design solutions that reflect their lived experiences rather than predetermined professional assumptions. We also dive deep into equity principles, exploring how to recognize and address the reality that not everyone starts from the same place on life's spiral staircase.

Whether you're leading a health coalition, managing community programs, or working in prevention, this episode offers both inspiration and practical guidance for building the kind of authentic community partnerships that create lasting change. Subscribe for more insights on collaborative approaches to community consulting and health equity work.

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Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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The tension between creative expression and rigid reporting requirements creates a disconnect that undermines both funders and grantees. What if there's a better way forward?

Kelly Feltault and Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld join us to unpack how traditional accountability frameworks often miss the mark when applied to arts organizations. Drawing from their work with Creative Forces—an innovative collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Department of Defense, and VA—they share how military veterans and their families experienced profound transformation through arts programming, yet organizations struggled to "prove" these outcomes to health-focused funders.

The problem isn't a lack of impact. Arts organizations witness life-changing outcomes daily—increased resilience, social connection, identity formation, and emotional well-being. The challenge lies in translation. When funders expect clinical-style measurement from community-based organizations without providing capacity-building support, they create what Kelly calls an "unfunded mandate" that burdens nonprofits and obscures their true value.

Their solution begins with honoring what organizations already know. Rather than imposing external frameworks, Kelly and Hannah help nonprofits articulate their outcomes in language funders recognize. This process of translation empowered Creative Forces organizations to secure new funding partnerships and influence systems change in ways they hadn't previously imagined.

For nonprofit leaders struggling with resource constraints, evaluation can become a strategic tool rather than just another burden. As Hannah reflects from her executive director experience: "Although this process takes time and intention, it ended up taking something off their plate instead of adding something on" by providing clarity amid the daily "paradox of choice."

Whether you're a funder seeking to support innovation or a nonprofit trying to communicate your impact, this conversation offers practical wisdom for building trust-based relationships that honor both accountability and creativity. As Kelly reminds us, "Evaluation is really just about being curious and strategic and brave—not about becoming a statistician."

Visit communityevaluationsolutions.com for free and low-cost resources including a nonprofit mission statement template, logic model template, coalition self-assessment, and the course "Powerful Evidence: Evaluation for Non-Evaluators."

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Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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Dr. Emia Oppenheim shares the powerful impact of Farm to Early Care and Education programs that connect young children with local food systems through gardening, hands-on learning, and fresh local foods.

• Public health nutrition focuses on population-level changes rather than individual interventions
• Children's food preferences often develop before age three, making early exposure to fruits and vegetables critical
• Farm to ECE uses three core strategies: buying local foods, teaching about agriculture, and hands-on learning
• Purchasing local foods creates ripple effects by supporting farmers and strengthening community food systems
• ASPHN's FarmWise initiative brings states together through collaborative learning to develop Farm to ECE programs
• Strong coalitions with diverse stakeholders drive innovation and sustainability in public health initiatives
• Despite funding challenges, states have found creative ways to implement local food purchasing incentives
• The next generation of public health professionals brings systems thinking and compassion to food system work

Visit asphn.org to learn more about ASPHN's Farm to ECE work, sign up for their newsletter, or join their upcoming webinars and training opportunities.

Guest Bio
Emia Oppenheim, PhD, MPhil, RD, Public Health Consultant and Farm to ECE Programs Director, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, 

Dr. Emia Oppenheim is a seasoned public health nutritionist and consultant currently working with the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) on federal public health initiatives. With a career spanning several decades, she has extensive expertise in nutrition, early childhood health and development, chronic disease prevention and population health. Dr. Oppenheim completed her PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry in 2001, at Cornell University, following an MPhil in Immunology from the University of Sheffield (UK) and a clinical internship for a dietetic registration at the University of Virginia. Dr. Oppenheim was an adjunct lecturer at Cornell and has presented widely on nutrition and child development in the US and UK. Dr. Oppenheim’s career has shifted over the years from nutritional biochemistry to public health nutrition with a focus on transforming policies, systems and programs to support healthier environments for children. She began working on public health programs in school districts, later serving as the lead for early childhood obesity prevention programs at the Ohio Department of Health. She now leads ASPHN’s national efforts with Federal partners to expand and strengthen Farm to Child initiatives, helping states create healthier food sys

Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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Nonprofit leaders feeling the weight of challenging times need more than grit to thrive—they need resilient organizations built on sustainable systems and supportive networks. Brooke Ritchie-Babbage shares her S.T.R.O.N.G. framework for building nonprofit stability while growing impact.

• Strategic clarity keeps everyone focused on the "cathedral" they're building beyond daily brick-laying work
• Well-designed tools and systems create the interstitial tissue connecting teams without bottlenecks
• Resources include not just funding but sustainable approaches like monthly giving programs 
• Ownership means everyone understands their role and has appropriate decision-making authority
• Networked capacity extends organizational roots beyond staff to partners, advisors, and collaborators
• Governance provides appropriate oversight and accountability that evolves as organizations grow
• Growth and stability aren't competing priorities—stability is the foundation for sustained growth
• Burnout isn't a badge of honor or personal failing but a structural mismatch requiring systemic solutions
• Building recovery and assessment into organizational rhythms is essential for long-term impact
• No leader should try to go it alone—find coaches, mentors, and peer communities for support

Check out Brooke's podcast at https://brookerichiebabbage.com/podcast/

Brooke's Bio

Brooke Richie-Babbage is a nonprofit growth strategist and social impact advisor. She is the founder and CEO of Bending Arc, a social impact strategy firm that supports the launch and sustainable growth of high-impact nonprofits, and the host of Nonprofit Mastermind Podcast.

For the past 23 years, Brooke has worked as a lawyer, nonprofit leader, and social entrepreneur. She has founded and led multiple successful organizations and initiatives, including the Resilience Advocacy Project (RAP), where she served as founder and Executive Director for 11 years, the Sterling Network NYC and the NetLab Initiative, both initiatives of the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, where she served as Director of Network Initiatives for six years, and the Social Justice Accelerator (SJA), an initiative of the Urban Justice Center, where she has served as SJA Director since 2019.  

Brooke received her JD and MPP from Harvard and her BA from Yale. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.

Brooke Richie-Babbage | LinkedIn 

Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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Amanda Klein-Cox joins me to talk about KinCarolina, a comprehensive support program for caregivers raising children with disabilities or special health care needs. The program combines peer support, training, financial assistance, and community-building to improve caregiver wellbeing and ultimately benefit the children in their care.

• Kinship care occurs when relatives or close family friends raise children whose parents cannot care for them
• For every child in formal foster care nationally, approximately 19 are in informal kinship care arrangements
• In South Carolina, this ratio is even more dramatic—1:300
• Most kinship caregivers receive little to no support despite saving states millions in foster care costs
• Kinship caregivers face unique challenges including financial strain, legal barriers, and supporting children with trauma
• Early results show caregivers feeling less isolated and better equipped to support their families

Amanda's Bio:
Amanda Klein-Cox, Ed.D., is a Senior Research Associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work (SSW). Dr. Klein-Cox serves as the Project Implementation Manager for the KinCarolina program, which provides comprehensive support to kinship caregivers raising children with disabilities or special health care needs in the Midlands region of South Carolina. In addition to overseeing implementation, she organizes and convenes the project’s Advisory Council and multi-state team of researchers and collaborators. She has also led developing and implementing a national survey of kinship caregivers with the same team. As a researcher, Dr. Klein-Cox is interested in bridging the fields of education and social work around child and family well-being, particularly in the area of kinship care. Since becoming a mom, she is also interested in the intersection of maternal mental health and well-being with child welfare and family well-being outcomes.
 
Dr. Klein-Cox owns Engage with Data and currently serves as the Lead Evaluator on the HRSA-funded Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program at Ohio State University. 
 
Dr. Klein-Cox began her career as a middle school teacher. She earned a Doctorate of K-12 Education Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University.

 Contact Info for Amanda and KinCarolina:  

• [email protected]
• www.kincarolina.org
• www.facebook.com/kincarolina
• www.linkedin.com/company/kincarolina

Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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Dr. Dominique Johnson's passion for community transformation isn't just theoretical—it's deeply personal and remarkably effective. From his roots in East Macon, Georgia to founding the Urban Community Empowerment Organization (Urban CEO), Johnson has developed a powerful framework for community-led change that's producing measurable results.

The Urban CEO focuses on five strategic pillars: education, economic empowerment, leadership development, civic engagement, and wellness—each addressing critical needs within urban communities.

The Urban Leadership Academy, a seven-month program that has graduated over 100 community leaders over nine years.

Johnson's recent focus on mental health reveals his responsiveness to emerging community needs. He points to the alarming statistic that less than 3% of psychologists nationally are Black men, creating significant barriers to culturally competent care. Through initiatives like an annual Mental Health Symposium, he's working to destigmatize mental health issues while increasing access to resources.

Data plays a crucial role in Johnson's strategy for community transformation. His motto "dollars follow data" encapsulates the practical importance of census participation and data collection. As he powerfully states, "that number has a name"—reminding us that behind every statistic is a human story.

Drawing from historical social movements and his faith tradition, Johnson aims to "equip people so the community itself can build itself." This philosophy of empowered self-determination creates sustainable change built on the unique strengths already present in every community.

Bio

Dr. Dominique Johnson is a trailblazing leader whose passion for community transformation has positioned him as a catalyst for change. As the visionary force behind The Urban CEO, he has dedicated his life to empowering leaders, fostering cultural change, and creating lasting community impact. With over two decades of experience.

A dynamic strategist, Dr. Johnson is committed to developing leaders at every level. Through SEEDS Global Enterprises and The Urban CEO, he champions initiatives that drive economic empowerment, leadership development, and civic engagement. 

Dr. Johnson’s leadership and service have earned him numerous accolades, including the Links, Inc. Chain of Service Award and the Wesleyan College Lane Center Servant Leadership Award. A Leadership Georgia graduate and a recognized regional influencer, he continues to shape Middle Georgia and beyond.

Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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Dr. Nina Sabarre, founder and CEO of Intention to Impact, takes us deep into the urgent challenges philanthropy faces in our current political climate. With federal programs under attack and DEI initiatives being dismantled, foundations stand at a pivotal crossroads – will they retreat or boldly step forward?

Dr. Sabarre reveals how foundations aren't responding uniformly to these challenges. While some double down on equity commitments, others conduct closed-door strategy sessions, fearing repercussions from a hostile administration. This tension highlights a fundamental question: How can philanthropy effectively support communities when macro-level systems are shifting dramatically?

The conversation explores how traditional philanthropic models might be fundamentally misaligned. Most foundations distribute just 5% of their assets, while the remaining 95% remains invested in markets that often perpetuate the very problems their grants aim to solve. Dr. Sabarre unpacks impact investing as a powerful alternative, enabling foundations to generate both financial returns and positive social outcomes while deploying a greater portion of their capital toward their mission.

Perhaps most compelling is Nina's analysis of systems change strategies. Using the "Waters of Systems Change" framework, she demonstrates how conservative movements have masterfully funded long-term influence through strategic investments in media, churches, and educational institutions. At the same time, progressive philanthropy often focuses on immediate community needs rather than building lasting power.

For those working in evaluation, nonprofit leadership, or community organizing, Dr. Sabarre offers practical wisdom for navigating these turbulent waters – from maintaining commitment to community-centered approaches despite funding pressures to building stronger coalitions and drawing lessons from successful social movements of the past.

Subscribe to Community Possibilities wherever you get your podcasts to continue exploring what's possible when people come together to create lasting change in our communities. Be sure to connect with Nina and sign up for Intention 2 Impact's newsletter.

Bio

Nina is passionate about gender, racial, and social equity, and using #evalpreneurship to dismantle the status quo. She has consulted for a wide variety of cross-sector institutions ranging from Earthjustice, WK Kellogg Foundation, The California Endowment, TED’s Audacious Project, Elevate Prize Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Omidyar Network, and USAID to name a few. Her work focuses on equitable evaluation for strategic grantmaking and sy

Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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When tragedy struck at age 15, Jesse Kohler found himself surrounded by a supportive community that helped him navigate grief and eventually discover post-traumatic growth. This formative experience set Jesse on a path toward becoming a passionate advocate for trauma-informed systems change.

As Executive Director of the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP), Jesse brings a unique perspective to our conversation. While many organizations focus on direct trauma services or training, CTIPP recognized a critical gap: the need for coordinated advocacy to transform policies at every level of government. Their innovative approach creates a "coalition of coalitions" that connects national policy efforts with state, local, and grassroots initiatives—creating a bidirectional flow of information and resources.

Jesse breaks down the core principles of trauma-informed approaches, and helps us understand how these principles can be applied across healthcare, education, justice systems, and even climate resilience efforts. Through partnerships like the International Transformational Resilience Coalition, CTIPP is helping communities prepare psychologically and socially for extreme weather events and environmental challenges.

Our conversation explores the messy but rewarding world of coalition-building and the crucial distinction between community-based and truly community-led approaches. Jesse emphasizes that evaluation must empower communities rather than extract from them, challenging traditional models that measure impacts and then depart without sustainable engagement.

Ready to join this movement? Visit ctipp.org to connect with advocacy networks, communities of practice, and resources designed to build momentum toward a trauma-informed future where healing, resilience, and community-led change become the foundation of healthier systems for all.

Guest Bio

As CTIPP’s Executive Director on loan, Jesse Kohler is in charge of organizational administration and HR, fundraising, strategic planning, public engagements, and working to create conditions of safety and empowerment for the board, staff, and volunteers in their roles with the organization. Jesse is on loan from The Change Campaign, which is a nonprofit organization Jesse founded. The Change Campaign is a multi-pronged initiative to build community and systemic capacity by facilitating the application of the science of developmental adversity and its progression through the lifespan and generations to enable initiatives that improve holistic well-being and provide strategic support to government agencies and organizations focused in aligned areas. Jesse has always had a strong vision for change that woul

Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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Dr. Jimmy Smith Jr., a dynamic leader in public health, reveals the transformative journey from family medicine to becoming the Director of the Macon-Bibb County Health Department. Dr. Smith shares his passion for influencing communities on a large scale, highlighting his mentorship at Mercer University and as the president of the Georgia Public Health Association. His inspiring story is packed with insights about the challenges and triumphs of public health, painting a vivid picture of the dedication required to make a significant impact.

Like other public health departments, the public health department in Macon-Bibb County performs vital tasks, from food inspections to vital immunizations. Facing the reality of a community where 24% live below the poverty line, Dr. Smith discusses the universal importance of public health, dispelling misconceptions that it is only for the underserved. His insights on handling recent health concerns like flu, RSV, and COVID-19 and the critical role of vaccinations. He offers a compelling narrative on managing public health services in a diverse community.

Dr. Smith shares his philosophical approach to public health prevention strategies. Using creative metaphors, he illustrates the importance of primary and secondary prevention efforts and the crucial role of leadership and collaboration in fostering healthier societies. With a focus on resilience and mentorship, Dr. Smith shines a light on the future of public health careers, emphasizing the importance of nurturing emerging leaders to create lasting change. His optimistic outlook invites listeners to engage with public health initiatives, advocating for a future filled with progress and opportunity.

Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]

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Darice Oppong's joins me today to share her journey working in community leadership and trauma-informed practices. We explore the vital role of collaboration in fostering resilient communities and the importance of celebrating small victories as coalition members work together to address societal challenges.

• Darice’s background in community service and leadership
• The significance of trauma-informed care in supporting individuals
• Strategies for building and sustaining coalitions effectively
• The development of onboarding processes to enhance member engagement
• The challenge and necessity of community collaboration
• Insights into the future goals for Resilient Middle Georgia

If you found this conversation helpful and want to dive deeper into creating impact in your community, I invite you to visit my website at communityevaluationsolutions.com/resources. You're going to find free tools, guides, and templates to support your work to build stronger community organizations.

Darice's Bio
Darice Oppong is a passionate leader, speaker, advocate, and lifelong learner currently pursuing her Master’s in Organizational Leadership at Mercer University. With a heart for service and community, Darice wears many hats, including her role as Coalition Coordinator for Resilient Middle Georgia (RMG), where she empowers leaders to embed trauma-informed care practices into their organizations across the region.

Over the past five years, she has focused on creating meaningful impact, particularly in rural and underserved communities. In her role with Resilient Middle Georgia (RMG), Darice has contributed significantly to building the coalition’s capacity. 

In January 2024, Darice’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through Judah David Creations, a crochet shop on Etsy inspired by her son’s legacy.  Her motto, “Crochet is a metaphor for life. You just need to take it one stitch at a time, and eventually you’ll make something beautiful,” reflects her commitment to resilience and creativity.

When she’s not coordinating coalitions or crafting new designs, Darice serves as the Praise and Worship Leader for Kingdom Life Church. She treasures quality time with her husband, friends, and family, finding joy and purpose in building connections and inspiring others to embrace their journeys.

Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions

How Ann can help:

· Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.

· Help you create a strategic plan that doesn’t stress you and your group out, doesn’t take all year to design, and is actionable.

· Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations.

· Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.

· Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.

· Speak at your conference or event.

Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .

Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful.

Music by Zach Price: [email protected]