Centering Equity in Collective Impact for Stanford Social Innovation Review

Article for the Standford Social Innovation Review by J. Kania, J. Williams, P. Schmitz, S. Brady, M Kramer & J Splansky Juster reports on using the collective impact approach and how it has taught them equity is key.
Centering equity in collective impact

This article is a really important expansion of the collective impact framework and makes equity a central pillar of collective impact work, addressing a gap in earlier models.

It highlights the need to actively dismantle systemic barriers and ensure that all community members, especially those from marginalised groups, are included and empowered in the decision-making process. It challenges traditional success metrics by advocating for measures that account for equity outcomes.

This shift encourages initiatives to evaluate their impact not just by the scale of their outcomes, but by the fairness and inclusiveness of their processes and results. It emphasises the importance of addressing power imbalances within collective impact efforts. By advocating for shared leadership, the article promotes a more democratic approach, where community voices are not just heard but lead the change.

It provides actionable steps and strategies for centering equity which helps organisations translate the principles of equity into concrete actions, making the concept more accessible and implementable. It underscores the need to tailor collective impact strategies to the cultural and contextual realities of the communities involved, ensuring that initiatives are relevant and respectful.

Overall, the article enriches the collective impact framework by embedding equity at its core, making it more inclusive, just, and effective in addressing complex social challenges.

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