Making Collaboration Possible

[Brian Wilson]

Most collaborative efforts are the results of indigenous endeavors and are not mandated at the policy level. Nonprofit organizations who seek to collaborate are free to do so on their own terms according to what works best for that organization's needs and agenda. As indigenous efforts, the answers to many of the questions of collaboration are within the organization. In an attempt to develop and surface these answers, I would like to begin by extending an open invitation on the discussion of what has been and what may continue to be the roadblocks of collaboration.

[Regional Council of Churches]

It seems to me that it is hard to look beyond the immediate issues to the beneficial possibilities of working together. I think that often initiation and initial contact may grow out of immediate need. I need a mentor program for parolees. That initial need and the satisfying of it may lead to ongoing relationship between my organization and say the Salvation Army. Like an emergent organism, collaboration is shaped as it grows. On the other hand, intentional collaborative community offers such great possibilities but it is rare because the need for it does not seem pressing absent a specific lack and it takes tending. The Regional Council of Churches experience around Katrina is a great example of that. We had worked for years establishing communicating relationships with agencies, congregations, and organizations. The emergency of over 60 thousand evacuees on our streets lead us to work from those relationships to form a collaborative which would offer everything from food to nursing services in space donated by one of those congregations. We had spent the time and effort to create a network before we had an emergency need for it. The creation of the network enriched everyone involved and would have been valuable even if Katrina had not suddenly changed our world.

[Courtney Hodges]

I don't really have any input for this, but I hope you get some good responses from others who know more about collaboration. I think it is a worthwhile discussion.