Elaine Zimmerman, Founder of The Parent Leadership Training Institute, reflects on the role of parents in advancing policy for child wellbeing. With their expertise, lived experiences, and large stake in policy change, parent should be key players in these conversations. Yet as Zimmerman observes, parents and government are often not connecting: "Parents no longer have the civic skills necessary to connect with government. Without the tools, they do not engage. This is not disinterest, it is lack of vehicle. Parents need dignity, access, social context, substantive roles and a clear map of goals and child outcomes." What can we do to bridge this gap; to empower parents to use their voice? The "vehicle" Zimmerman mentioned above comes in the form of a skill set, equipping parents with democracy tools such as knowledge about the government system, and methods to engage local, state, and elected leaders. With these tools, parents are able to match their desire for change with their ability to effect it. Read the entire article here: "But I'm Just a Parent" Parent Leadership is About Democracy Here are some resources, inspiration, and models to help promote parent engagement & foster civic leadership: |The National Parent Leadership Institute| |The Right Question Institute| |Abriendo Puertas| |Parents SEE|

Maybe your group has been using collaborative practices for a while, or maybe you’re still in the process of discussing what your group decision-making process looks like. No matter where your group is, it’s helpful to evaluate what you’re already doing well, and which areas require more attention. The Wilder Foundation has a Collaboration Factors Tool that breaks down the process into 22, measurable factors. Through a short survey, you’ll be able to get a clearer picture of where your group lies and the best places to devote energy to move forward! Check it out here, it takes about 15 minutes to complete.

The process & practice of shared governance has made its way into a variety of environments, one of them being the nursing field. While this introductory chapter outlines what shared governance looks like for nursing specifically, it also identifies the principles of establishing shared governance in any environment: Partnership - Equity - Accountability - Ownership Read on for a more in depth explanation, and a comparison of a shared governance model to others in the nursing field.

On our collective journey to support the growth and wellbeing of children, building sustainable partnerships is vital! However essential, establishing new connections with partners is challenging work. From developing a partnership contract, to conducting an effective meeting, The Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) has a wealth of resources to help guide successful partnerships. Looking for some quick tips? Check out ECLKC's "Wisdom from the Field" on partnership negotiations that highlights 10 key points that contribute to successful negotiations.

Check out this great resource by PolicyLink that breaks down the process of building a healthy community into concrete, measurable components. Centered around growing community participation, this checklist can be a guide for assessing which areas can be improved upon, for example: How is your initiative building trusting and accountable relationships with community leadership and residents? Along with the assessment, the checklist also includes a list of resources as a follow up, offering a deeper dive into each component!

What does it mean to truly be in community? How can community members work together towards collective change while still honoring individual differences? During a conversation between George Brosi and bell hooks, the two identify several key ingredients which "the beloved community" concept rests upon: Radical openness "...When we talk about radical openness as essential to the building of community, we have to be willing to hear the voices of people not like ourselves. We have to be willing to respect people’s different ways." Reconciliation "Central to the notion of beloved community is the idea that there can be reconciliation as opposed to victory." Equanimity "...The practice of equanimity, of balance, of how can I be both self realized and at the same time responsive to the practice and need of community." Throughout this conversation, George and bell circle back to the connection between ourselves (as individuals,) our families, and our communities. While all of these practices can be used on the community-level, they must first start as practices we use for ourselves -- only then can we extend outward to others and build genuine connections.

Came across this year-long webinar series and had to share! "An interactive webinar training series focused on developing existing and potential online community managers and IRL ACEs champions. If you are not a current online community manager, please know that ALL are welcome. This series is dedicated to providing insight into creating sustainable and effective online & IRL ACEs initiatives." https://www.acesconnection.com/blog/2019-starting-and-growing-resilient-communities-online-and-in-real-life-irl-webinar-series