St. Louis, Missouri - June 10-11, 2008
The Institute on Assets and Social Policy teamed up with the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University and CFED to plan and facilitate the first ever strategy meeting for emerging and developed statewide asset building coalitions. Sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the meeting was attended by 66 individuals representing 28 different state coalitions, national intermediary organizations and several foundations. Massachusetts was well represented at the meeting by four members of the Asset Development Commission.
Through panel presentations and large and small group discussions, participants shared their coalitions' achievements and challenges, learned about successful tactics currently being used in other states, and began to develop strategies to move their work forward. Prior to the meeting, coalition representatives completed a survey on the emergence and status of their coalition and activity related to promoting an asset policy agenda. Survey results aided meeting planning and were made available to participants. From the survey responses and meeting discussions, it is evident that state asset coalitions have originated in many different ways, but share similar visions and many common goals. Some are still emerging and principally engaged in information sharing and service coordination, while others have already succeeded in achieving some of their asset building goals and have developed a consensus asset policy agenda for the short and long-term.
Thomas Shapiro, Director of IASP, was joined by representatives of CSD, CFED and the New America Foundation in informing the state groups of the resources and technical assistance the intermediary organizations can provide to aid the further development of state coalitions. Meeting participants provided information on the milestones they aim to accomplish by December 2008 and to identify what resources they anticipate needing from both the national organizations and their colleagues in other states. Ideas were vetted on how coalitions can most effectively communicate among themselves and what venues can support sustained “learning” and coalition viability.
A summary of the proceedings will be available at CSD's web site. For more information, contact Sandra Venner at venner@brandeis.edu or 781-736-8688.
© 2008, Institute on Assets and Social Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. All rights are reserved.
