Democracy Collaborative Foundation Inc

THE DEMOCRACY COLLABORATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2000 TO ADVANCE UNDERSTANDING OF DEMOCRACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY AND TO PROMOTE EMERGING STRATEGIES AND INNOVATIONS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAT ENHANCE DEMOCRATIC LIFE. IN PARTICULAR, OUR WORK FOCUSES ON THE CRITICAL ROLE LOCAL ECONOMIC STABILITY PLAYS IN STRENGTHENING CIVIC LIFE, PROVIDING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, ENHANCING FAMILY SECURITY, AND PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THE DEMOCRACY COLLABORATIVE SPONSORS A RANGE OF EDUCATION PROJECTS INVOLVING RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED WORK DESIGNED TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR WEALTH BUILDING INNOVATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

OUR ANCHOR INSTITUTION PROGRAM CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE UNIVERSITIES, HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS AND OTHER PLACE-BASED ANCHORS PLAY IN EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. THROUGH OUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE ANCHOR NETWORK INITIATIVE, WE DEEPENED ENGAGEMENT WITH NONPROFIT HEALTHCARE LEADERS AT APPROXIMATELY 60 HEALTH SYSTEMS TO HELP THESE SYSTEMS USE THEIR HIRING, PURCHASING AND INVESTING POWER TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.WE WORKED WITH THESE SYSTEMS TO INCUBATE AND SCALE STRATEGIES THAT ESTABLISH THE ANCHOR MISSION AS A HEALTHCARE SECTOR PRIORITY AND TO LEAD INNOVATION IN ANCHOR MISSION IMPLEMENTATION, BOTH INTERNALLY AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, WITH A NETWORK GOAL TO DEFINE THE HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP STANDARD AND PROMOTE INDUSTRY COLLABORATION FOR PROACTIVELY ADDRESSING ECONOMIC AND RACIAL INEQITIES IN COMMUNITY CONDITIONS THAT CREATE POOR HEALTH.

THROUGH OUR ENGAGED PRACTICE AND EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS, IN 2021, THE DEMOCRACY COLLABORATIVE PROVIDED GUIDANCE, EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING POGRAMS, RESEARCH AND PROGRAM SUPPRT TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE SEEKING TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES THAT AIM TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS AND DISINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS. FOR EXAMPLE , WE SUPPORTED PROJECTS WITH CITY AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS IN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES INCLUDING COLUMBUS OH, BALTIMORE AND WAHINGTON DC TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO LEVERAGE INSITUTIONAL INVESTMENTS TO CREATE JOB AND WEALTH BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNEMPLOYED AND DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS. AS IN PRIOR YEARS WE ALSO CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE EVERGREEN COOPERATIVE INITIATIVE IN CLEVELAND OHIO.

CREATED A PLANNING GROUP OF ACADEMICS THAT MET WEEKLY FOR A YEAR TO DEVELOP OUR NEXT SYSTEM LEARNING LAB AND BEGIN DEVELOPING OUR NETWORK.THE FIRST LEARNING LAB WILL BE A SUMMER PILOT PROJECT FOCUSED ON EXPLORING OWNERSHIP AND PROPERTY IN POLITICAL ECONOMY THROUGH THE LENSES OF STRUCTURAL RACISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE.THE PLANNING GROUP DEVELOPED THE LEARNING LAB CONCEPT, HELD THREE ROUND TABLES WITH APPROXIMATELY 30 FACULTY, PRACTITIONERS, AND STUDENTS FOR FEEDBACK, AND REFINED THE LAB'S PURPOSE, FOCUS, AND STRUCTURE.THE LAB WILL CENTER OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY-LED PROJECTS AS EXAMPLES OF INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ACHIEVE CLIMATE JUSTICE THROUGH A PLURALITY OF OWNERSHIP FORMS.THE LEARNING LAB HAS MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES: TO ARTICULATE THE VALUES, NARRATIVES, AND DISTINCT STRUCTURAL FEATURES THAT COULD DEFINE AN EQUITABLE, JUST AND REGENERATIVE POLITICAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM; TO ILLUSTRATE MULTIPLE VISIONS AND PATHWAYS FOR THAT SYSTEM; TO BUILD THE PERSONAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF PARTICIPANTS; TO ADVANCE THE STRATEGY AND IMPACT OF COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL PROJECTS; AND TO CREATE INTELLECTUAL, PRACTICAL, AND MOVEMENT BUILDING RESOURCES TO ACCELERATE THE EMERGENCE OF A NEXT SYSTEM.