This paper calls on love as a cure for injustice. It is not a formal research paper. It comes from the heart. It is meant to be used—like love itself. It is meant to start talks and make us think.

"Through real-world research, policy analysis, and practical advice, we guide state and federal policymakers in advancing evidence-based solutions that increase affordability and improve access to care."

"As the largest employer in the world, our federal government cannot afford to have leaders that all look and think the same. I support the Pledge for Diversity campaign because our nation was founded on the principle of unity, not despite our varying backgrounds, but specifically because of it."

— Leon Panetta, Former Secretary of Defense and White House Chief of Staff

A free online resource helping local government leaders identify and implement evidence-based strategies to improve upward economic mobility for their residents.

Over 50 high-level strategies and nearly 200 specific programs backed by rigorous research. From early childhood to workforce development, housing to financial security.

What Is Systems Thinking?

Systems thinking is a way of looking at problems that helps you see the whole picture, not just one piece. Instead of asking "What happened?" it asks "Why did this happen?" and "What patterns am I seeing?"

Think about it this way: When you see a traffic jam, you could just be frustrated about the cars in front of you. Or you could ask deeper questions. Why is there always a traffic jam here at 5pm? What about the road design causes this? What beliefs about how people should get to work led to this road being built this way?

Systems thinking helps us move from quick fixes that don't last to real solutions that change things for good.

As federal pandemic relief funds wind down, states across the nation are finding innovative ways to sustain and expand summer learning programs that emerged during the Covid-19 response. This report examines how nine states built infrastructure and implemented strategies to ensure summer learning remains accessible and effective.

Why This Matters for Dallas

• For Community Leaders: A coordinated regional approach to fragmented housing efforts

• For Policy Makers: Comprehensive framework addressing policy, production, and preservation

• For Developers: Access to capital and innovative construction approaches that reduce costs

• For Workers: Focus on "missing middle" and workforce housing for those earning 50-80% AMI

• For Dallas' Future: Addressing a projected 76,000 unit shortfall by 2035

These four webinars from the Constructive Dialogue Institute give college leaders, educators, and student organizers practical tools for building campus cultures where people can talk across differences. Learn from real examples at leading universities.

What This Series Offers

• Research-backed strategies from leading universities

• Practical tools you can use right away

• Real examples from campus dialogue programs

• Expert guidance from university leaders

• Free recordings you can watch anytime

Who gets to tell the story of your community? For too long, outside voices have shaped narratives about Black and Brown neighborhoods. But a new wave of grassroots organizations is taking back the pen—and the camera, the podcast mic, and the social media account—to tell their own stories and drive real change.

Why This Matters for Organizers

• Stories Drive Change: Narrative power is as important as economic or political power

• Tools Are Accessible: You do not need Hollywood budgets—TikTok, podcasts, and community theater work

• Community Expertise: Those closest to the problems are best positioned to tell the stories

• Proven Strategies: Case studies show what works across different communities

• Funder Interest: Philanthropy is increasingly supporting narrative change work

Three hundred Fresnans came together with a big vision—to build an economy that creates opportunity for everyone. Five years later, the results speak for themselves. Fresno DRIVE shows what is possible when communities lead, when neighbors organize, and when everyone has a seat at the table.

Why This Matters for Organizers

• Proof of Concept: Community-led initiatives can move the needle on national rankings

• Replicable Model: Multi-billion dollar community-led investment plan created by residents

• Infrastructure Focus: Neighborhood Hubs build relationships, trust, and collective power

• Long-Term Vision: Five-year timeline shows sustained commitment produces results

• Systems Change: Addressing root causes of poverty, not just symptoms

"I've experienced a number of times where I found myself thinking, 'Oh I never thought of it that way' or I recognized that someone else's experience opened me up to a new way of seeing that topic. I found myself seeing something for the first time."

— Conversation Participant

Peer-Learning Cohort for Fundraising Professionals in the US Democracy Space

Connect with fundraising peers at democracy organizations. Share ideas, build community, and grow together through monthly sessions with expert facilitation.

A 9-month program for mid-level development professionals working to strengthen democracy.

How do the places where we gather shape how we connect? From housing to green spaces, public libraries to digital forums, the environments around us play a vital role in fostering belonging and community.

National Native American Heritage Month
Domincan Sisters of Houston
&
Center for Healing of Racism
Presents

The American Indian Genocide Museum

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