TIME FOR A CHILDREN'S
MOVEMENT
Wingspread Journal, Winter 1997
"POWERFUL FRIENDS FOR KIDS"
MEET AT WINGSPREAD
by Martin I. Scherr
Here's a riddle: what has 20 heads, spends about
$45 billion a year, touches about 100 million lives--yet
no one has heard of it?
The problems faced by children and youth constitute
an all-too-familiar and persistent litany, despite
tacit societal agreement that envisions a bright future
for children. A bright future, however, requires certain
assurances: relationships with caring adults; a safe
environment, free from hazards and threats; health
care; nutrition; appropriate educational opportunities;
and shelter.
Among the literally thousands of organizations that
have emerged to address society's concern about children
and families is an unusual constellation of agencies
referred to as Leadership 18. Composed of the chief
executive officers of the major health and human-service
provider agencies and United Way of America, with
combined annual revenues of about $45 billion, Leadership
18 touches the lives of more than 100 million people
per year and, combined, operates in almost 15,000
locations.
United Way of America provides leadership, coordination,
and support for this significant group of service
providers, and more than 50 percent of local United
Way dollars goes to them in the aggregate.
The mission statements of the Leadership 18 agencies
have remarkably complementary aims, considering the
wide variety of their programs. This group of agencies,
with essentially common societal goals, possesses
great potential as a powerful force in public policy
and can have significant impact on making our communities
better places to live.
Common Concern
To explore their common concerns about the status
of children and families, top board members and staff
of Leadership 18 convened at Wingspread for a first-ever
conference. Although the group had met before, this
meeting was unique. It was especially designed to
facilitate purposeful discussion of how to build better,
healthier communities that promote the well-being
and nurturing of children and families.
The group was challenged to look at community building
in new ways by John McKnight of Northwestern University;
Janice C. Kreamer, president of The Greater Kansas
City Community Foundation; and David Westbrook, president
of Corporate Communications Group.
McKnight suggested that the most effective way to
build better, stronger communities is to foster and
develop local capacity to solve problems. Leadership
18, he suggested, should focus energies on identifying
and coalescing around community assets instead of
deficits, gaps, and problems. The group accepted this
approach as a valuable tool that will help Leadership
18 agencies partner more fully.
Kreamer and Westbrook described an example of focusing
on assets in the "#1 Question" campaign in Kansas
City. In that campaign, the community is encouraged
to ask itself in every situation--organized as well
as informal--"Is it good for the children?"
All three presenters elicited a positive response
from Leadership 18 participants. While a positive
response to ideas does not necessarily lead to unified
or concerted action on behalf of children and families,
there are many examples of strong cooperation and
collaboration.
They include:
- YWCA,
Girls Incorporated, and Girl Scouts of the USA,
working together to address issues of concern to
girls and young women.
-
National Mental Health Association and the YWCA,
coordinating their initiatives on prevention of
violence and abuse.
-
Goodwill Industries International and United Neighborhood
Centers of America, participating in several projects
that take advantage of their close proximity in
several neighborhoods to collaborate job preparedness
and readiness.
-
United Way of America expanding its involvement
with many of the Leadership 18 agencies, including
programs for children and families, outcomes evaluation,
and training.
In addition, Leadership 18 will sponsor a Summit
meeting for board members and staff in 1997 for collaborative
planning on issues of mutual concern.
Remaining Questions
Questions remain. Some members strongly believe
that Leadership 18 can and should be doing more on
a collective basis. Assuming agreement on one or more
specific issues, is it true that organizations coming
together around a shared interest can be a powerful
force? Can that leadership be brought to the American
community as a whole and to each of thousands of local
communities?
Should Leadership 18 coalesce around issues and
try to exert its collective potential as a force for
social policy (legislative) change? What does it mean
for agencies to coalesce/agree on an issue? What is
given up? What are the costs? What are the benefits?
Who benefits?
And is public trust better served when major organizations
advocate jointly or is the public preference for separate,
disparate (possibly competing) activities?
Despite these questions, the challenge for children
and youth remains. In the words of several executives,
Leadership 18 could be a powerful public force if
it spoke with one voice. "Kids and families need powerful
friends; we are powerful, especially when we get together."
Martin I. Scherr is senior director of the National
Agencies Division of United Way of America.
LEADERSHIP 18
Leadership 18 is an association of the chief executives
of the major social service provider agencies in the
United States. Its agencies deliver every manner of
service in nearly every community in the country.
Its nearly 15,000 local affiliates have combined revenue
of approximately $45 billion and involve nearly 100
million people. Leadership 18 meets formally twice
a year to discuss issues of common concern.
Members include:
American Red Cross
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Boy Scouts of America
CampFire Boys and Girls
Catholic Charities USA
Child Welfare League of America, Inc.
Council of Jewish Federations, Inc.
Family Service America
Girl Scouts of the USA
Girls Incorporated
Goodwill Industries International
National Mental Health Association, Inc.
National Urban League, Inc.
United Neighborhood Centers of America, Inc.
The Salvation Army
Visiting Nurse Association
YMCA of the USA
YWCA of the USA
United Way of America
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