The Full Frame Initiative

Even with the best intentions, the creation and management of programs and services can lead to collateral harm. By prioritizing equitable access to wellbeing as a measure of progress, however, system leaders can shape their projects and policy recommendations to undo past harms and reconnect communities that have historically been impaired by decision making. This #WellbeingWednesday, we are resharing the Wellbeing Design Principles. A set of guideposts for creating equitable access to wellbeing in your work. 1?? Start with what matters to people: wellbeing. 2?? Design and implement with, not for. 3?? Heal and regenerate. 4?? Foster social connections and social capital. 5?? Span boundaries. 6?? Build (on) assets and innovation.

Our six core concepts are the backbone of how we approach systems change: 1?? We don’t all have a fair shot 2?? All of us are hardwired for wellbeing 3?? Making change is hard, sustaining change is harder 4?? The way we frame an issue determines the solutions we build 5?? Effective solutions come from a community-centered, wellbeing-oriented approach 6?? It’s about fixing systems, not people Get to know this powerful toolset to create change in the systems and communities that need it most.

The Community Bill of Rights was created over two years ago — a collaborative effort we helped to drive forward alongside 16 community leaders across the country. The Community Bill of Rights provides concrete guidance to government and nonprofits that helps to end the harmful and extractive patterns that are a source of distrust in systems and harm.

After 15+ years moving the US toward a country where everyone has a fair shot at wellbeing, FFI has made the careful decision to wind down as an organization, while investing our resources in ensuring that the mission lives on and continues to spread. What does it look like for an organization to wind down in alignment with wellbeing design principles? In the coming months, we’ll be working closely with our partners to do just that, imagining ways the work can take on new life. Our priority is transitioning our knowledge, expertise and tools so that our community can carry the work forward. We’re deeply grateful to our staff, board, senior fellows and core partners who are all committed to seeing this work into its next chapter. Determining how the work lives on and grows beyond FFI isn’t for FFI to figure out. It’s up to all of us to set that course together. We hope you’ll be in touch to help make this real.

Systems change is a continuous effort — not one that depends solely on one person, organization or government entity. While political leadership may shift, the need for wellbeing equity remains constant. At the Full Frame Initiative, we are committed to the long-term work of transforming systems, no matter the political context. Stay tuned as we share resources to empower you in this crucial work — because the pursuit of a fair shot at wellbeing doesn’t stop.

Many thanks to the American Planning Association for inviting us to share about our Wellbeing Insights, Assets & Tradeoffs Tool in the latest edition of their PAS Memo for planners. Our former Associate Director of Built Environment, Senchel Matthews, joined Urban Institute's Kathryn Reynolds to co-author “Centering Wellbeing in Community Co-Creation: WIATT and C4C.” Read the full article on APA's website.

UpTogether has spent over two decades distributing unconditional cash payments to families experiencing poverty. Across hundreds of cities, these guaranteed income programs positively impact wellbeing – showing?increased employment rates, reduced rates of childhood poverty and improved physical and mental health. Yet, this trust-based, no strings option has many critics. Often compared to universal based income (UBI), guaranteed income is different –?offering direct cash investments in financially under-resourced and historically marginalized communities. The post ends with a powerful quote: "Poverty, like many contemporary welfare programs, robs people of freedom. Guaranteed income and other direct cash initiatives give freedom back. People don’t need the government telling them what to do, no matter how much money they earn or their station in life. "

Designing for wellbeing calls on us to seek uncommon partners and span the boundaries that might silo us. For #WellbeingWednesday this week, we look at the intersection of the medical system, art and wellbeing. Pepón Osorio created an art installation that centers the experiences of patients of color. Each patient's story highlights how inequities in the medical system are reflected in patients' access to wellbeing.

Our friends at Network Weaver have a new toolkit to support community engagement for equitable systems change. This toolkit is a great resource for anyone who believes that communities most impacted need to have a seat at decision-making tables.

How do changemakers working toward systemic change measure progress in complex, long-term efforts? A new article from The Bridgespan Group argues for a fundamental shift in our measurement mindset, emphasizing the need to "prioritize contribution over attribution" and adapt our methods as work evolves. The article highlights why "durable solutions require a strong foundation and trust in field catalyst leadership," even when immediate results aren't visible. And, perhaps most importantly, it reminds us to "stay in love with the problem, not our solution," underscoring the need for flexibility in our strategies. Drawing from real-world examples of systemic change from tobacco control to marriage equality, the article provides practical advice on measuring progress that could transform how we evaluate and communicate the impact of systems change work.