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The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them. ~ Albert Einstein |
by Kelly Jackson, Director of the WHRO Center for Regional Citizenship, a Community Engagement Initiative
Just about every sector of society has felt the impact of the recent economic crisis. Jobs have been lost, budgets have been cut and charitable giving is down. Foundations have lost money and corporate philanthropy is declining. At the same time, community needs are on the rise.
While we have many challenges ahead, history has shown that the greatest innovations often happen when people pull together during tough times. Our current economic hard times may actually be the stimulus we need to discover new ways of solving community problems.
As we are forced to be more efficient and effective stewards of our limited resources, we should look beyond our individual interests and consider how we can find solutions through collaboration. Instead of developing efforts independently, we should be creating networks that leverage unlikely relationships across diverse stakeholders.
Complex problems are best approached from multiple perspectives and our community could benefit from actively involving citizens, government, business, philanthropy, nonprofit, media and education in addressing public challenges.
WHRO’s Center for Regional Citizenship has a mission to engage the community in shaping the long-term economic, environmental and social prosperity in Hampton Roads. Since the Center’s founding in 2005, we have addressed several important local issues including early childhood education, the closing of the Fort Monroe Army Base, and childhood obesity.
Considerable local and national funding has enabled the Center to broaden and deepen its efforts to impact childhood obesity, but the current economic climate requires that we look beyond corporate and foundation financial support to build community and impact positive change.
Giving circles are one example of a new approach. Giving circles are made up of individuals who pool their resources and then decide together how to focus their efforts. According to a May 2009 report by the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and The University of Nebraska at Omaha, American philanthropy is entering an era in which donors want to be more engaged in their communities. “The Impact of Giving Together: Giving Circles’ Influence on Members’ Philanthropic and Civic Behaviors, Knowledge and Attitudes,” highlights how philanthropic institutions across the U.S. are helping to create and/or support giving circles as a way to cultivate new and more diverse donors, enhance broad understanding of philanthropy and community issues, and build community cohesiveness to tackle tough problems.
As we move forward, we must be more creative in our approaches to solving public challenges and meeting community needs. The stakes are high and the time is right for all of us to be more engaged in the betterment of our communities. Our future depends on it.
