Resources
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Learn more about our clients, projects, and insights. Discover tools, case studies, news, and information.
Finding the Signal: Five Questions for Nonprofit Leadership Teams
Every day is bringing a new piece of information for us to grapple with. How do we listen for the signal amidst the noise? This is where continuous sense-making by leadership teams comes in. This capability lessens ambiguity and moves organizations from reactive to...
Churchill and the Second Arrow
"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill The Buddhist parable of the second arrow teaches a profound lesson about how we as leaders respond to adversity. According to the story, when we experience a painful event—let’s say loss of organization...
Addressing Uncertainty #3: Busting Our Assumptions
(Go here to read the previous post in this series) Most of us have heard the old adage—sometimes attributed to Oscar Wilde, but definitely uttered by Felix Unger in the in the 1970s television version of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple—“When you assume, you make an ‘ass’...
Addressing Uncertainty #2: Five Mindset Shifts We Need Right Now
(Go here to read the previous post in this series) As the future of social impact work grows more uncertain, clarifying our thinking has never been more crucial. This means challenging our assumptions and reframing our approach when necessary. Here are five essential...
Addressing Uncertainty #1: Position First and Plan Second
A strong position is a hedge to uncertainty. Once we’re clear on the most important elements of who we are and what we do, then we can begin to plan.
Investigating Kindergarten Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism in Minnesota
In May 2024, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) partnered with Creation in Common to investigate kindergarten attendance and chronic absenteeism in Minnesota. The study aimed to uncover the root...
Advancing Collaborative Leadership
By Carlo Cuesta Collaboration is a tricky beast. We collaborate daily with our teams, boards, and community partners to co-create solutions. As we all know, this is no easy task and we don’t always do it well. Yet it’s critically important: Our ability to build...
Discovering Our Warrior/Artist
As we navigate the rocky pathways of our work, we need the skills and qualities of both a warrior and an artist. Warriors are undaunted—unwavering in their commitment to equity and social justice. As this purpose is challenged by current events, power dynamics, and...
Don’t Go It Alone: Building Community Ensembles
In today’s interconnected world, some of the most pressing challenges that nonprofits strive to address—economic inequality, social inequity, climate change—transcend borders and impact every aspect of our lives. So, why do we tend to tackle these problems in...
An Actor Prepares
by Carlo Cuesta When an actor walks on stage, we may think that their reflex is to perform. But after years of working in the theater, I know that’s not quite right. An actor’s natural reflex, due to many hours of training and rehearsal, is to listen. Next time you...
Good Promises
by Carlo Cuesta In the social sector, our work is driven by our mission, vision, and values. These are important touchstones that we feature prominently on our web pages and in our grant proposals. Some of us boldly paint them on the office wall for all to see and be...
Shared Creativity Amidst Collective Uncertainty
We’ve been feeling it for a while now: We’re living in a unique and challenging time. There’s no need to lay out a reminder of the last few years or provide statistics to prove the point. We know it in our bones. We’re in uncharted waters. At the same time, we at...