COLORADO CONVERSATIONS 2002

Notes from Small Group Discussions
April 25, 2002

1. How can the nonprofit sector at the state and local level inform social change at the national level?
   • Social Change is happening at the local level.
   • Though there is a Lack of Power and Resources
   • Collaboration
   • Through Advocacy and the Education of our own constituents
   • Through Modeling Collaboration between Sectors
   • Social Change begins locally
   • Through the 'Grass Roots' Coalitions Across the State and Country
2. How can the nonprofit sector in Colorado position itself to affect social change?
   • By building relationships
   • By bringing employees into your programs
   • Through positive media coverage
   • Through the creation of an easy to search nonprofit directory
   • By using technology the nonprofit sector in Colorado can effect social change.
   • By continuing conversations like Colorado Conversations, issue focused conversations that promote collaboration among nonprofits.
   • Through the creation of a "Colorado Civic League" a neutral party convening around an issue.
3. What can the nonprofit sector do to increase participation?
   • Voter registration drives
   • Cross sector collaborations (For example: charter schools)
   • Increase citizen engagement in democracy
   • Asking for citizens participation. (Example: soliciting volunteers)
   • Connect action with outcomes
   • We have a tendency to speak in broad terms instead of doing.
   • Make the community issues available (Example using CANPO as a resource.)
   • Forge relationships with the media
   • Direct Democracy through nonprofits
   • Connect nonprofits
4. What can the Colorado nonprofit sector gain from and contribute to greater engagement at the national level?
   • Process vs. Agenda
   • Use models of effective programs at the local level to influence the national level
5. What can we learn from the events of September 11th about global interdependence?
   • Policy issues have impacted how people view the United States
   • We know that it is important to understand the world beyond our borders
   • There has been a realization that we are all interdependent
   • The importance of bilingualism and multilingualism
   • We can not longer focus on issues that only impact our own communities. We must look beyond our own communities.
   • We learned that we have the potential to powerfully rally behind a cause quickly.
     

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