Collaboration across sectors is essential for tackling complex challenges like affordable housing and community development. In this episode of Natural Collisions, experts at the forefront of cross-sector partnerships share insights on what makes collaborations successful - the opportunities and the challenges.

Through real-world stories, we explore how nonprofits, businesses, and policymakers can work together to build stronger, more resilient communities. Whether you're in the nonprofit world, policymaking, or passionate about Detroit’s future, this conversation offers practical takeaways for driving meaningful impact.

GUESTS:
Shari Williams, Director of Equitable Neighborhood Planning, Detroit Future City - https://detroitfuturecity.com/
Heidi Reijm, Principal Community Development Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago - https://www.chicagofed.org/
Madhavi Reddy, Executive Director, Community Development Advocates of Detroit - https://cdad-online.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:54 - Guest Introductions
03:42 - Cross-Sector Collaboration Explained
12:03 - Affordable Housing Crisis
27:37 - Equitable Collaborative Efforts
39:50 - Final Thoughts & Insights

In this special episode of Natural Collisions, we celebrate Co.act Detroit's five-year anniversary, recorded live at the historic Jam Handy in Detroit. Join us as we highlight the incredible work of nonprofit organizations from across Southeast Michigan.

We explore how Co.act Detroit has supported collaboration, innovation, and impact in our communities through speeches and interviews with leaders and changemakers. This milestone is not just about the past five years—it's about inspiring a shared vision for the future. Don’t miss this inspiring reflection on what’s possible when nonprofits unite for a greater cause.

Speakers:
Kelly Brittain, Vice President of Impact at the Children’s Foundation - https://yourchildrensfoundation.org/
Rashard Dobbins, Executive Director at Class Act Detroit - https://www.classactdetroit.org/
Amanda Andere, CEO at Funders Together to End Homelessness - https://www.funderstogether.org/

Interviews:
Kourtney Neloms - Catalyst Consulting 313
Tony Russell - Detroit Community Solutions
Shadora Ford - Destined For Greatness
David Silver - Detroit Horse Power
Adriene Bulger
Amanda Holiday - Congress of Communities
George Cole - Act Now Services
Jackie Dunlap - Teachers Supporting Teachers
T. Yarnell Ball - Read Art Loud

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:38 - Welcome from Allandra Bulger
03:15 - Kelly Brittain
07:47 - Rashard Dobbins
13:08 - Amanda Andere
21:37 - Allandra’s Thank You
23:29 - Celebration Interviews

Should participatory grantmaking be the new normal? Many funders are shifting decisions from boards to putting the decision-making process in the hands of the community which is most affected. Our Colliders discuss the effectiveness of this approach.

GUESTS:

• Leah Wiste, Executive Director - https://www.miipl.org/ 
• Rishi Moudgil, Shift Detroit & Former Executive Director - https://greenlightfund.org/sites/detroit/
• Bryan P. Hogle, Senior Program Manager - https://kresge.org/ 
• Lauren Boone, Grants Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
01:20 - Guest Introductions
02:56 - What is Participatory Grantmaking?
15:02 - KIP:D+ & the Participatory Grantmaking Experience
23:34 - Participatory Grantmaking is a Collaborative Process
28:54 - Final Thoughts

In 2019, Detroit was considered to be the least connected city in the United States. Natural Collisions guests discuss the connectivity challenges in Detroit, and how all sectors are joining forces to lessen the digital divide. GUESTS: Myka Burley, Program Manager on the Education & Employment team at Rocket Community Fund Autumn Evans, Deputy Director, Digital Inclusion & Equity at the City of Detroit

Natural Collisions guests discuss philanthropy and funding for Black-led organizations. The conversation spans the origins of Black philanthropy, its current state, and what the future of philanthropy looks like for Black-led organizations. Also, an honest talk about the disparities between Black-led and white-led organizations. Join the discussion... GUESTS: Karris Jackson, Chief Operating Officer at POISE Foundation Dwan Dandridge, CEO/Founder of Black Leaders Detroit Nikia Washington, Senior Director of Restorative Communications & Philanthropy at Earlyworks LLC

Is the shift to wellbeing permanent or a temporary trend for organizations? Wellbeing advocates discuss the shift to wellbeing from a global perspective. GUESTS: Mark Greer, Transforming Power Fund Alana Cookman, The Wellbeing Project Jessamyn Shams-Lau, philanthropy, equity, and wellbeing advocate

Co.act Detroit was founded on the idea that collaboration is key to creating a resilient nonprofit community in Southeast Michigan. Today, we talk with three people from disparate ends of the sector about partnering with each other and thinking differently about collaboration within their work. GUESTS: Tim Jones-Yelvington, Senior Consultant with Foresight Design Kimberly Faison, Director of Community and Economic Development at Detroit Future City Sonia Plata, Foundation Director with Flagstar Bank

Mental health days. 4-day work weeks. Meeting-free Fridays. If these seem like foreign concepts to you, you’re in the right place. This month, we speak to three social impact and nonprofit leaders about creating a culture of wellness at work. Through flexibility, trust, and compassion these organizations are showing us how to transition from surviving to thriving. Guests: Spring Opara, Project Director at CompassPoint Noah Urban, Senior Analyst and Project Lead at Data Driven Detroit Trina Groce, Human Resources Director at TechTown Detroit

Women have historically dominated the nonprofit and social impact sectors. Despite the many challenges COVID has posed for women in the workplace and at home, this month’s guests are transforming the way their fellow women in Southeast Michigan live, work and thrive. Through innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and supporting each other, they represent the women who hold our society together. Happy Women’s History Month! GUESTS: Cheryl P. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) Terry Barclay, President and CEO of Inforum Amy Peterson, Co-founder and CEO of Rebel Nell

Co.act opened its doors to in-person programming and collaboration in June 2019. In March 2020, we paused and shut our building, out of caution and safety because of COVID-19. As we step into a new year and a new phase of work, we’re looking back on the impact we’ve had in the nonprofit ecosystem we’re proud to call home.

Despite the fact that Detroit is one of the Blackest cities in the US, many of the leaders in its nonprofit and foundation space are white. Can the work really be done adequately when it’s led by people who don't look like or share the same lived experience as the people they’re here to serve? This month on Natural Collisions, we explore Black leadership among Southeast Michigan’s nonprofits and foundations, reflecting on the past, grounding ourselves in the present, and dreaming for the future. Guests: Yodit Mesfin-Johnson is the President and CEO of Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW). Nathaniel Wallace is the director of the Knight Foundation in Detroit.

What happens when people need support immediately? Madhavi Reddy of CDAD and Jerry Ann Hebron of Oakland Avenue Urban Farm discuss taking immediate action to serve the needs of communities during times of emergency. Also, Madhavi explains the necessity to streamline funding with Detroit Community Development Mini-Grants, of which Oakland Avenue Urban Farms and Independence Rides are grantees.

In this episode of Natural Collisions, we spotlight the vital work of Macomb County nonprofits making a difference for young people in need. Join us for an engaging conversation about the impact of partnerships to transform young lives.

Our “colliders” share inspiring stories of collaboration, challenges, and triumphs in serving youth and families. Discover how their organizations provide essential support, foster hope, and build stronger communities through compassionate action.

GUESTS:
Joella E. Bush, Executive Director at Giana House - https://giannahouse.org/
Fred Huebener, Board Member at Macomb Foster Closet - https://macombfostercloset.org/

More information about Macomb County is available at - https://advancingmacomb.com/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:32 - Guest Introductions
05:33 - Personal Journeys and Missions
12:33 - Youth Service Collaborations in Macomb
33:41 - Collaborative Models in Macomb
43:58 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Intermediary organizations provide assistance to nonprofits doing vidal work on the ground in Detroit & SE Michigan. This conversation is between two intermediaries supporting nonprofits during the emergency of the pandemic. Kelley Kuhn - Vice President of Michigan Nonprofit Association - and Matthew Schmitt - Program Manager for Michigan Community Resources - discuss their roles and their work with Co.act Detroit's Activate Fund.

Natural Collisions highlights the voices of nonprofit work in Detroit and Southeast Michigan. In this episode join us for a conversation between Omari Rush of CultureSource and Jim Boyle of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr Foundation discussing nonprofit work in the midst of the COVID-19 environment.

In June 2019, Co.act Detroit officially opened its doors. In reflection of the year that has passed — and in anticipation of the years to come — we listened to members of the local nonprofit community to hear their stories of Co.act’s impact so far.

In this episode of Natural Collisions, we explore the critical intersection of civic engagement and public policy for nonprofits. What are the most pressing civic issues nonprofits could be focusing on today? How can nonprofits effectively engage to advocate for the communities they serve while remaining compliant with regulations?

The “colliders” for this conversation discuss the challenges and opportunities nonprofit organizations face during election seasons while offering strategies for building coalitions that amplify the voices of underrepresented communities.

GUESTS:
Joan Gustafson, External Affairs Officer, Michigan Nonprofit Association
Regina Bell, Chief Policy Officer, Council of Michigan Foundations
Kamilia K. Landrum, Executive Director, Detroit Branch NAACP

For voting information on the upcoming election visit - https://mi.gov/vote

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:29 - Guest Introductions
05:22 - Civic Engagement Personal Stories
14:52 - Nonprofit's Role in Civic Engagement
26:17 - Collaboration & Coalitions
31:43 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Scarcity and competition hinder the ability to collaborate. While those worries are normal, they stop organizations with common goals from building strong partnerships. How do we change that?

The Dovetail “How We Collaborate” Playbook is designed to provide a framework for organizations and teams to work together more effectively. It helps establish shared values, language, and practices for collaboration, ensuring that everyone is aligned on goals and approaches, equitably.

Access the “How We Collaborate” Playbook here - https://dovetaildetroit.org/playbook-trilogy/how-we-collaborate/

The “colliders” for this conversation bring a wealth of experience in creating shared strategies for collective action and community development in Detroit & SE Michigan. They have been valuable partners in the development of the “How We Collaborate” Playbook.

GUESTS:
Heather Nugen, Director of Systems Transformation at Michigan Community Resources
Shelley Danner, Co-Founder & Program Director at Challenge Detroit
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager at Coact Detroit

The “How We Collaborate” Playbook was created in a partnership between Michigan Community Resources and Co.act Detroit. It emerged from meaningful conversations during the “2021 Detroit Capacity Building Forum: How We Collaborate.” It also draws upon ideas shared locally and nationally about advancing equity and collaboration in the nonprofit sector.

To access the 2021 Detroit Capacity Building Forum: How We Collaborate visit - https://padlet.com/micommunityresources/how-we-collaborate-2021-detroit-capacity-building-forum-bkxqn5rbm5holk7w

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:41 - Guest Introductions
03:22 - Purpose of Playbook
05:27 - Collaboration in Detroit
08:08 - Challenge Detroit
12:30 - The Playbook in Action
24:58 - Best Use of the Playbook
32:16 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

Can nonprofit organizations become workplace environments that nurture rest and wellness?

This episode marks the conclusion of our Fund Well Series, which has focused on the importance of funding wellbeing for nonprofit leaders and teams. For more conversations about wellbeing and rest, check out Co.act's Nonprofit Wellbeing Series and the Virtual Resource Library here: https://coactdetroit.org/resources/virtual/.

The “colliders” for this conversation have joined from across the globe - Washington State and London, England - to bring their unique and “radical” ideas to the Co.act Detroit community. This candid conversation challenges the grind and burnout culture prevalent in the nonprofit workplace.

GUESTS:
Jodi Nishioka, Co-Executive Director at BIPOC ED Coalition WA - https://bipocedcoalitionwa.org/
Kate Oliver, Radical Rest Network - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/kate-oliver-96b6a6162

Read Kate Oliver’s blog post on Radical Rest - https://www.anewdirection.org.uk/blog/radical-rest-for-the-cultural-sector

To join the Radical Rest Network visit - https://forms.gle/kaLvPzRRQmgbyQaS7

To learn more about the mentioned book, “Rest is Resistance” by Tricia Hersey, visit - https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tricia-hersey/rest-is-resistance/9780316365536/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome
01:11 - Guest Introductions
01:57 - Personal Jouneys
07:54 - Rest is Unique
12:33 - Benefits of Sabbaticals
37:32 - The Radical Rest Network
46:07 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

This special recap Natural Collisions episode highlights the 2022 Detroit Capacity Building Forum. The forum was focused on one thing: investing differently in our nonprofits and our communities.

Conversations about investing often center on funders and those with financial power. When we reframe the conversation to include nonprofit employees, consultants, organizers, social justice advocates, and community residents, we open the way for transformative possibilities.

The goals of the Detroit Capacity Building Forum were:
1 - Explore how our ecosystem can invest differently in organizations, ideas, and people
2 - Honor those working to create more equitable funding landscapes
3 - Create a playbook that redefines investing and guides movements now and for the future

The Detroit Capacity Building Forum was a collaboration between Co.act Detroit and Michigan Community Resources. Hosted by Orlando Bailey. To learn more about some of the resources shared during the forum, visit coactdetroit.org/documents/dcbf-resources.

Sessions:
00:00 - Welcome
02:33 - 12 Recommendations for Detroit Funders
19:59 - Lightning Talk with Lisa Leverette - Nonprofits & Allies
30:02 - Shifting Funder-Nonprofit Power Dynamics
51:22 - Lightning Talk with Vu Le - Nonprofits & Allies
01:10:03 - Closing Information

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

The Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series was designed to build trust and challenge traditional roles and power dynamics between funders and regional nonprofit leaders.

The “colliders” for this conversation were all involved in a series of conversations between funding organizations and nonprofit leaders. These “brave spaces” provided an opportunity for nonprofits and philanthropic foundations to have a candid discussion to develop deeper, more trusting relationships in Michigan’s nonprofit sector.

The Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series was a collaboration between the Dorothy A. Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University and Co.act Detroit, with facilitation provided by The Eureka Group. For more information visit - https://coactdetroit.org/npfd/

00:00 - Welcome
02:18 - Guest Introductions
05:18 - Nonprofit-Funder Dialogue Series Explained
07:19 - Power Dynamics between Nonprofit & Funders
14:35 - Collaborative Efforts Creating Conversations
17:43 - Shared Recommendations & Discussion
35:50 - Final Thoughts & Next Steps

GUESTS:
Maria Salinas, Executive Director - https://www.congressofcommunities.com/
Lesley Slavitt, Executive Director - https://johnsoncenter.org/
Kyle Caldwell, President & CEO - https://www.michiganfoundations.org/
Tameka Ramsey, Director - https://www.tramseyllc.com/
Allandra Bulger, Executive Director - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Investing in Nonprofit Wellness is a continuation of our “Fund Well Series,” a series of episodes focused on the importance of Funding Wellbeing for nonprofit leaders and teams.

The “colliders” for this conversation all play an important role in supporting the wellbeing of the communities they serve. Our guests understand the need to elevate the importance of healthy nonprofit work environments in the sector that prioritizes wellbeing. Join us to explore a few tactics and benefits of a wellbeing culture in the workplace.

00:00 - Welcome
01:23 - Guest Introductions
03:12 - The Importance of Wellbeing
11:22 - Challenges to BIPOC Healthy Work Environments
26:55 - Funding & Fostering Workplace Wellbeing
38:58 - Final Thoughts

GUESTS:
Yolo Akili Robinson, Founder and Executive Director - https://beam.community/
Asia Blaney, Grants Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/
Lily Salas, Community Investment Officer - https://www.kalfound.org/
Terry E. Whitfield, (former) Partnership Manager - https://www.skillman.org/
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Join us for an honest and thoughtful exploration of Wellness, Rest, and Liberation! This episode is an introduction to our “Fund Well Series,” a series of episodes focused on the importance of Funding Wellbeing for nonprofit leaders and teams.

The “colliders'' for this conversation all work intentionally to make the nonprofit workplace a healthier and happier environment. And, they understand that the only way to initiate this change is by being honest about where we are right now. And this conversation gets very honest - so be sure to listen to the very end.

GUESTS:
Kim Johnson, Founder, President and CEO - https://www.developingkids.org/
Heidi Alcock, Director of Grant Development and Communications - https://mcgregorfund.org/
Shamyle Dobbs, CEO - https://mi-community.org/
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager - https://coactdetroit.org/

To find out more about Co.act Detroit visit - https://coactdetroit.org/

Timestamps:
01:29 - Guest Introductions
03:26 - Rest, Wellness, and Liberation Explained
12:44 - Burnout Stories and Solutions
28:02 - Co.act Detroit Announcements
28:54 - The Push for Sabbaticals
46:45 - Final Thoughts
51:52 - Closing Information