Impact Happens at the Speed of Relationships
Fostering inter-organizational and intergenerational relationships for social impact
There is broad consensus that some of the complex challenges society faces today can be effectively tackled and alleviated if organizations worked together. However, inter-organizational relationship building and cooperation do not happen by chance and are not always easy, especially, when they are intergenerational. The success of such relationships hinges on micro-processes and mechanisms underpinned by specific principles and practices.
Over the past year and a half, the Global Shapers Cleveland Hub and the Black Environmental Leaders (BEL), have enjoyed a thriving relationship and partnership on many fronts. Both organizations recognize the critical importance of intergenerational leadership in moving the needle in communities.
When I started my Global Shapers curatorship journey in the summer of 2021, I had an important ally leading into the role. Because my curatorship is modeled upon three key principles; Partnerships, Racial Equity and Inclusion, and Impact, the relationship with BEL has been catalytic.
BEL became a strategic partner of the Global Shapers Cleveland Hub and its new curatorship in July 2021 through a formalized fiscal sponsorship agreement. Since then, BEL has been an advisor, connector, and a key supporter of the Cleveland Hub; helping it deepen and scale its impact especially, within the sustainability and environmental justice areas.
The Cleveland Hub has effectively expanded its portfolio of climate and sustainability-related projects to include the Youth Climate Action Fund, Shaping the Future conversation series, and Listen Lead Share community conversation series among others. This relationship has provided many insights and opportunities for learning.
I work primarily in community and economic development leading strategy and innovation; helping design interventions and social impact programs as well as forging strategic relationships for impact. I serve on a couple of non-profit boards and have made some keen observations on how different organizations formulate and manage inter-organizational relationships and collaborate to achieve shared goals.
“There are micro-processes and mechanisms through which inter-organizational relationships within a cooperative and a community allow firms to operate on a continuum comprised of social value generation, sharing and replication practices”
Curating and cultivating relationships such as exists between the Cleveland Hub and BEL requires intentional practices rooted in trust, respect, and vulnerability. For the rest of this piece, I share some principles and practices that have helped our organizations, BEL and Global Shapers Cleveland, enjoy a blossoming intergenerational and inter-organizational relationship.
The concept of Intergenerativity
The foremost proponents of the concept of Intergenerativity, Whitehouse, Ritchey, Schiller, & Willoughby, have defined intergenerativity as the “meaningful fusion of ideas and emotions that emerge from conversations and experiences shared between the generations and inspires actions that benefit individual minds, social lives, and the natural world that sustains and connects persons of all generations, past present and future”.
Even though this concept has been largely applied in the education field, it has real applications in the social impact field as well. Intergenerativity as a concept is more important today than ever because of its potential to “build collective wisdom and inspire” collective action that is informed and sustainable.
“Ultimately, it is argued that, by virtue of their inter-generative nature, intergenerational partnerships can be a powerful means of nurturing social, civic, and environmental responsibility and helping current and future generations address social and ecological challenges.”
Inter-generational relationships foster a genuine sense of connection and mutual affirmation and the sharing and learning of twenty-first-century skills of collaborative team practices, respect for diverse ideas, risk-taking, and equity.
Mutual Trust and Respect
Global Shapers Cleveland and BEL were first introduced in January 2020, right before the Great Reset, and entered into a formal partnership in July 2021. Prior to BEL becoming a fiscal sponsor of the Cleveland Hub, the hub had been in communication with other local organizations about possible fiscal sponsorship. The conversations leading to our partnership were always warm, authentic, and transparent. This was the foundation of trust upon which our formal partnership started.
Through all our meetings and conversations, there is a shared sense of respect where each participant’s voice is heard and ideas prioritized. Our meetings start with a check-in/icebreaker question which allows everybody to contribute their voice into the room before any formal discussions begin; this helps warm up the room and ground everyone in the present and build comfort around speaking out.
Mentorship and problem-solving skill-sharing have been an integral part of this relationship as well. I have often leaned on the BEL leadership, SeMia Bray, and David Wilson for advice on navigating some of the challenges I have encountered.
Shared Vision and Commitments: BEL practices the distributed leadership model in running the organization which allows for a decentralized and equitable leadership engagement. This model made the organization prime for the kind of engagement it has with the Global Shapers which employs a similar leadership model. Both organizations are committed to climate action, leadership development, and environmental justice. The alignment of our mission and vision made this collaboration easy and largely impactful.
A Culture of Collaboration: Collaboration does not just happen when it is initiated — it is a culture that is manifested in processes, attitudes, and principles. Both organizations entered into this relationship with a readiness to collaborate. This translated into the processes we put in place to manage this relationship. We have bi-weekly check-ins to discuss our work, relationship, and strategies. We also spend time reflecting on the relationship itself. Three months into our formal partnership, we paused to reflect; seizing the moment to ask ourselves some critical questions: What is working? What is not working? What can each party do to make the relationship better?
Global Shapers Cleveland Hub has enjoyed impactful partnerships with other local organizations including Drink Local Drink Tap, Global Cleveland, Neighborhood Connections, The Ohio Environmental Justice Fund, Office of Sustainability at the City of Cleveland.
In loving memory of Jacquie Gillon, a bundle of joy, a true advocate for intergenerational leadership, and a true Climate Justice Warrior in Northeast Ohio.
