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1. Meaningfully Connecting with Communities in Advocacy and Policy Work

Author:
Susanna Dilliplane and David Devlin-Foltz
Publication Date:
04-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Aspen Institute
Abstract:
Commissioned by Fund for Shared Insight, this landscape scan explores whether and how US funders and nonprofits seek to meaningfully connect with the people and communities that their advocacy and policy work is intended to benefit. It employs an intentionally exploratory lens, without a predetermined definition of what “connecting” would look like in advocacy and policy contexts, nor presumptions about what might be needed to support connections. The research findings are intended to inform Shared Insight’s grantmaking strategy, and to contribute to the broader field’s understanding of what it means — and what it takes — to meaningfully connect with communities that are ultimately intended to benefit from advocacy and policy work. Shared Insight is a funder collaborative seeking to improve philanthropy by elevating the voices of those least heard.
Topic:
Advocacy, Community, Philanthropy, and Non-profits
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

2. The Grand Opportunity: Creating Community, Equity and Innovation with Houston Public Libraries

Author:
Amy Garmer
Publication Date:
05-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Aspen Institute
Abstract:
Thirty library, government, nonprofit, and business leaders convened at the historic Julia Ideson Library Building in Houston in November 2017 to explore opportunities for working more closely and more intentionally with Houston’s public libraries. The Houston Dialogue on Public Libraries highlighted the changing role of libraries in response to educational, economic, social, and technological changes in society and explored strategies for leveraging the resources and expertise of the Houston Public Library system to address critical needs for recovery and rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
Topic:
Education, Innovation, Community, and Libraries
Political Geography:
North America, Texas, United States of America, and Houston

3. Beyond Connectivity: How California Libraries Can Leverage Bandwidth to Advance Community Goals

Author:
John Horrigan
Publication Date:
06-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Aspen Institute
Abstract:
Written by John Horrigan, this report unveils a set of opportunities and recommendations for strengthening local innovation and resetting community expectations, using public libraries and their gigabit-plus broadband capacity as a fulcrum. With a focus on California Public libraries, the report suggests how library broadband can be used to address statewide goals for universal pre-kindergarten, youth learning and engagement, and civic participation especially with regards to the 2020 Census and elections.
Topic:
Education, Infrastructure, Internet, Community, and Libraries
Political Geography:
United States, California, and North America

4. Conscience, Community and Citizenship: Religious Pluralism in an Age of Religious Nationalism

Author:
Inclusive America Project
Publication Date:
07-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Aspen Institute
Abstract:
On October 9, 2018, the Aspen Institute Inclusive America Project, with generous support from the Democracy Fund and the Templeton Religion Trust, hosted a symposium entitled Conscience, Community and Citizenship to examine the role of religious pluralism in building a stronger democracy. The symposium sought to answer the following questions: What characteristics of engagement should we express through our words and actions? What skill sets are required for cross-cultural and religious literacy so we can engage, respect, and protect the “other”? How do we combine these characteristics and skills to protect and promote both conscience and community in the name of citizenship? What are the points of intersection between the ideals of religious freedom and religious pluralism? This report offers a summary of the day’s conclusions.
Topic:
Nationalism, Religion, Democracy, Citizenship, Community, and Pluralism
Political Geography:
United States of America and North America