Spatial Thinking: US Local Government System

This video brief provides an introduction to the application of spatial analysis to public affairs issues. This video presents it specifically as a tool to help untangle the complex local government system. In the United States, there are almost 90,000 local governments, including general- purpose local governments such as cities or counties, and special-purpose local

Merging for Impact and Growth

This abridged video centers on the merger of two long-established human service nonprofits. It explores the variety of reasons a nonprofit organization may consider a merger, how to assess an organization’s readiness, and the challenges of merger implementation. The full e-case on this topic is available at http://www.hubertproject.org/hubert-material/208/.

Moving from Stuck to Unstuck in a Public Controversy

This e-study explores a complex, conflict-ridden, and lengthy effort by a variety of stakeholders to create a development plan for their socioeconomically diverse and rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. Its setting is the Belknap neighborhood of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The African American Leadership Forum: A 21st Century Social Movement for the Common Good

Although examples of leadership by and of African-Americans abound, relatively few scholars and teachers of leadership focus on the particular characteristics and dynamics of African American leadership — with the possible exception of civil rights era leadership (Ospina and Foldy, 2009). This case describes a new African American movement that builds on the traditions and

Jeremiah Program

This case explores the national scaling efforts of Jeremiah Program, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. Jeremiah Program is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization whose proven, holistic approach transforms families from poverty to prosperity two generations at a time. The program provides single mothers and their children with a safe, affordable place to live, quality early childhood education,

Collaboration Challenges

A core challenge facing front-line social service providers is how to balance managing caseloads and working with the right partners in the local community in order to resolve complex problems of low-income families. This case highlights the collaborative practices of several local social agencies that serve low-income families in a public housing estate, BB Estate

Myers-Wilkins Community School Collaborative

This e-case highlights the leadership and management of a cross-sector collaborative through its implementation of a community school approach in a low-socioeconomic, highly diverse neighborhood in Duluth, Minnesota. The Grant Community School Collaborative (GCSC), housed in Myers-Wilkins Elementary School, has been building on the strategies of the Community School model for over 15 years. Using

Policy Field Analysis

This video brief provides a quick introduction to the substantive method of implementation analysis called policy field analysis. This type of analysis is helpful because, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, public service delivery is very complex. Multiple levels of government, nonprofit service providers, citizens groups, philanthropic funders and private businesses often are involved

Visual Strategy Mapping for Individuals

This e-study explores Visual Strategy Mapping (ViSM), using video and visuals to show both the process and results when this method is employed by groups, but also by individuals and as a method for recording interviews. It serves as a companion to the following title: John M. Bryson, Fran Ackermann, and Colin Eden. “Visual Strategy.”

Video Interview: Mike Nichols, President of the Coalition for the Homeless