FORWARD Platform

Thankful to my partners committed to the work of fortifying community! Excited to launch a single-point-of-entry for direct support for Altadena residents in the aftermath of the Eaton fires. Building communities, catalyzing restoration and reinvestment is an all hands on deck effort! I look forward to sharing more of what I’ve (and our team) have been working on to streamline the restoration of communities, post wildfires. More to come. To learn more about what organizations are doing to support relief, read below! https://lnkd.in/g7f3mjTh

When disaster strikes, immediate relief is critical. Through the Dena Care Collective, FORWARD and End Poverty in California (EPIC) has partnered with local organizations to provide direct cash assistance to families and businesses impacted by the recent wildfires in L.A. County. As Aja Brown, one of the leaders of this initiative, puts it: “Bureaucratic systems aren’t designed for emergency relief. Getting cash in the hands of families is the most impactful way to help them recover.” Traditional aid systems can be slow, leaving families without immediate resources to rebuild their lives. But by leveraging community-led solutions, we can create faster, more equitable disaster recovery efforts. ?? Read more in Fast Company about how these efforts are reshaping emergency relief: https://lnkd.in/g6UV5477 Let’s continue the conversation—how can we rethink disaster recovery to be more efficient, equitable, and resilient? Drop your thoughts in the comments. #DenaCareCollective #EquityInRelief #NoRedTapeRelief #DisasterRecovery #Resilience #EmergencyRelief #WildfireResponse #CommunityFirst

Our founder Michael Tubbs breaks down why direct financial relief—like the Dena Care Collective—matters for families recovering from the Eaton Fire on KBLA1580 Talk Radio. Alongside FORWARD Platform, we launched the Dena Care Collective to provide direct cash assistance, a user-friendly platform for accessing resources, and case management to families in Altadena and Pasadena impacted by the fire. As Michael says, “Cash is the currency of urgency”—because in times of crisis, people need immediate support, not red tape. #DenaCareCollective #EquityInRelief #NoRedTapeRelief Watch the full interview with Michael and Aja Brown: https://lnkd.in/gqsNH9BC

Let’s be real—government agencies are stretched thin. Staff shortages, budget constraints, outdated technology, and regulatory complexities make service delivery increasingly difficult. However, with strategic planning, technology adoption, and process optimization, agencies can do more with less while maintaining efficiency and impact. Here’s how agencies can work smarter, not harder: ? Prioritize High-Impact Initiatives Focus on programs with the most significant community benefits. ? Leverage Public-Private Partnerships Collaborate with other agencies, nonprofits, and private sector partners to extend resources. ? Standardize and Automate Processes Reduce administrative burdens with repeatable workflows and digital automation. ? Adopt Cloud-Based Technology Improve data accessibility, streamline compliance, and enhance interagency collaboration. ? Use Agile Project Management Implement flexible, iterative approaches to adapt quickly to challenges. ? Measure Impact and Drive Sustainability Track key performance metrics and develop self-sustaining program models. So, what's the bottom line? By embracing automation, data-driven decision-making, and strategic partnerships, government leaders can enhance efficiency, optimize workforce resources, and deliver greater community impact—even with limited staff. Want to learn how to do more with less? Check out our latest article about managing programs with a limited workforce in the comments.

Disaster relief should be fast, transparent, and equitable—but for too long, it hasn’t been. That’s why we created the Dena Care Collective, and today, we’re proud to announce it has surpassed $1 million in aid. With support from FireAid and major philanthropic partners, we are ensuring that the Black and underserved families and small businesses impacted by the Eaton Fire aren’t left behind. At FORWARD Platform, we believe in: ? Direct cash assistance—because people know what they need. ? Eliminating red tape—so help gets to families immediately. ? Data-driven impact—to inform policy reforms and prevent future disparities. Recovery shouldn’t take years of waiting and bureaucratic hurdles. It should be immediate, effective, and community-driven. This is how we build resilience—not just for today, but for the future. ?? Join us in reimagining disaster relief: https://lnkd.in/gDHu6AZ3 #DenaCareCollective #DisasterRelief #EquitableRecovery #InnovationForGood #FORWARDImpact #GoForward

Incredible work, S. Monica Soni, MD. Soni and the entire Covered California team! We’re honored to be part of this groundbreaking Population Health Investments (PopHI) initiative, ensuring that support reaches those who need it most. At FORWARD, we’re committed to streamlining access, enrollment, and outreach—because making impactful programs easier to navigate means improving real lives. Excited to see the early success and what’s ahead! ?? #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #FORWARDImpact

??FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dena Care Collective has now raised over $1 Million to support families impacted by the Eaton Fire—thanks to incredible partners. Michael Tubbs and Aja Brown founded the Dena Care Collective to reimagine disaster relief for underserved communities who are often left behind by traditional relief efforts. Alongside FORWARD Platform, we are providing recovery support for people in Altadena and Pasadena, uniquely combining direct cash payments with case management, user-friendly tech, and real data insights to bolster rebuilding and healing. This is more than disaster relief—it’s a blueprint for resilience. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gG8KUT-3 #DenaCareCollective #EquityInRelief #NoRedTapeRelief

Dena Care Collective Surpasses $1 Million in Aid! We’re proud to share that the Dena Care Collective, an initiative by FORWARD and End Poverty in California (EPIC), has now raised over $1 million to support families and small businesses devastated by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles’ historic Black and underserved communities. Thanks to contributions from @FireAid and major philanthropic partners like @Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Futures Foundation, 100% of donations are going directly to impacted residents in Altadena and Pasadena. The Dena Care Collective is reimagining disaster relief by: ? Providing direct cash assistance to families and businesses using proven digital payment models. ? Eliminating bureaucratic hurdles with a centralized, user-friendly platform for accessing resources. ? Offering long-term case management to ensure sustained recovery—not just emergency response. ? Leveraging real-time data to inform equitable resource allocation and policy reform. This is more than just relief; it’s a blueprint for resilience. We’re ensuring that historically underserved communities don’t just rebuild, but emerge stronger than before. ?? Join us in driving equitable disaster relief. Learn more and support: https://lnkd.in/gEsffcuJ #DenaCareCollective #EquityInRelief #NoRedTapeRelief #EquitableRecovery #DisasterRelief #CashAssistance #Resilience #FORWARDImpact

Government leaders are being asked to do more with less. Budget constraints, staffing shortages, and outdated technology are stretching agencies thin—yet community needs are greater than ever. The good news? There are proven strategies to streamline operations, optimize resources, and drive meaningful impact. In our latest guide, we explore actionable solutions for: ? Maximizing limited budgets through strategic planning ? Leveraging technology to automate administrative tasks and enhance collaboration ? Building sustainable, high-impact programs with data-driven decision-making Government leaders can take steps today to improve efficiency without overburdening their teams. ?? Read the full guide to discover how to modernize program administration and maximize impact: https://lnkd.in/ghCAuZzf #PublicSector #GovernmentEfficiency #DigitalTransformation #ProgramManagement #GovTech #LocalGovernment #SmartGovernance

The City of Milpitas faced a big challenge—ensuring small businesses and residents received over $3 million in critical relief funds while managing multiple programs with limited resources. With FORWARD, Milpitas was able to effectively manage multiple housing and business programs through a centralized platform and - ? Reduced administrative burdens by 50% ? Streamlined data management for real-time reporting & compliance ? Expanded outreach, increasing applications from BIPOC communities ? Saved 65% on fraud prevention in housing assistance ? Seamlessly processed relief payments to small businesses and renters ?? “Thanks to FORWARD, we fulfilled our commitment to supporting businesses and residents in need.” – Alex Andrade, City of Milpitas Learn more about how to streamline program administration and maximize impact: https://lnkd.in/gAUcUjCP #GovernmentInnovation #HousingRelief #SmallBusinessSupport #GovTech #DigitalTransformation #EquitableAccess #FORWARD