How can you collaborate with others to achieve social justice goals?

Some things that I found very helpful on my journey was the following: Building Networks:Discussing the importance of creating networks and coalitions, providing practical steps on how individuals and organisations can initiate and sustain effective collaborations in the pursuit of social justice. Engaging Grassroots Movements:Exploring the role of grassroots movements in fostering collaboration and driving social change, highlighting the significance of community involvement and empowerment. Establishing Cross-Sector Partnerships: Discussing the value of forging partnerships between different sectors, such as government, non-profits, and private enterprises, to address systemic inequalities and promote social justice at multiple levels.

I would add to these: On Establishing Cross-Sector Partnerships: Full support. The first step to establishing partnerships, is to ignore sectoral boundaries. Talk ideas with people from all backgrounds. Get their ideas. No one benefits from isolated encampments, and each has something to bring to the table that others lack. And before that, READ cross-sectorally. Let ideas flow across boundaries.

It's best to start with those who are listening and wanting to engage. A community based homelessness project I was involved in started with two us having a conversation. After four years we had 30 community organisations, and local and state government working together. The momentum built as people in organisations saw the positive results building.

I would add that many funding processes make organisations which should be collaborators into competitors. This needs to be examined. I'm also increasingly interested in (1) Collective Impact, as a way of aligning the activities of disparate organisations, without taking away their autonomy, and (2) recognition of Indigenous and informal governance systems that don't necessarily have status as an "organisation".

I've recently been introduce to the idea of Buddhist idea of "beginner's mind" or "know-nothing mind", which is to approach each person and situation with open-minded curiosity, and to be wary of thinking that you "know" what another person is, thinks or feels, or "know" what is happening in a situation. This corresponds with an idea from Western philosophical hermeneutics, of "authentic conversation". This is an and attitude of openness to having your mind change, and even of having your whole worldview turned upside down, by what you are hearing or learning. No matter how experienced or "expert" you are, try and maintain this openness to people and the situation.

To collaborate effectively: - Recognize and acknowledge our intersectionality by understanding that individuals have unique identities shaped by factors like race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic background. Appreciating these intersections enhances empathy and fosters the sharing of diverse perspectives when communicating. - Prioritize open communication by creating psychologically safe environments for sharing ideas, feedback, and concerns. Actively listen and validate diverse experiences. - Promote mutual learning by embracing contributions of others and by establishing trust through collaboration agreements that highlight DEI principles to respect diverse perspectives.

Formal evaluation is everywhere, and very important, especially to prove validity of change to social change financiers. But formal evaluation and improvement is a systematised version of what humans do daily: learn from experience. This aspect of individual and organisational learning needs also be recognised, valued and supported. The Japanese pioneered a version of this with kaizen: continuous improvement. Allowing individuals and workgroups to continuously improve means granting them autonomy to change systems and processes. In industry this is echoed in and management idea such as management by objectives and self-directing teams.

My learning from leading TogetherintheUK, a social enterprise focussing on migration is the importance of events. They provide a focus for partnerships, panels give you an opportunity to provide a platform for others and are a great way of building your community. They are incredibly hard work but worth all the effort, a well run event brings huge rewards. However, online we are, a face to face event still works best.