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In the 1987 film "The Untouchables," a pivotal conversation unfolds between veteran Chicago police officer Jim Malone and Federal Prohibition agent Elliot Ness. Sean Connery's Malone confronts Kevin Costner's Ness with a powerful challenge. Ness is eager to combat the criminal underworld in Chicago but is uncertain about the lengths he will go to.
Malone poses a thought-provoking question that forces Ness to reconsider his approach: "What are you prepared to do?" After deep reflection, Ness embraces the challenge with renewed determination and immediately takes decisive action, setting the stage for historic events to unfold.
This scene illustrates that achieving greatness often requires stepping out of our comfort zones and taking risks. This principle also applies to community stakeholders, who must take decisive action to tackle complex issues such as poverty, hunger, and other pressing challenges.
As individuals, we often feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of these issues and may question our ability to make a difference. However, like Ness, we must ask ourselves: What are we prepared to do? This is not an easy question to answer, but it ultimately leads us to take action and create positive change in our communities.
When presenting to stakeholders nationwide, I often ponder, “What are you and your community genuinely prepared or willing to do?” Many attendees appear highly interested in our discussions, but who will take the necessary steps to drive change? We've found that community stakeholders genuinely want to make a difference but often question the time and effort required for effective, successful engagement.
The challenge usually lies not in the “why” but in the “how to.” Stakeholders frequently struggle with understanding how to build capacity for a “better together” community. Surprisingly, many communities have yet to embark on the journey towards collective community impact.
Most stakeholders are unaware of its feasibility, and when we explain that it is possible, they often respond with “cautious optimism,” willing to explore the potential. We realize that achieving collective impact is not easy; it requires commitment, collaboration, and adaptability. But when stakeholders understand the potential of working together towards a common goal, they become inspired to take action.
You might be wondering: “What motivates communities to change or adopt new approaches?” Often, it’s a response to disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, or fires. Disaster relief and recovery efforts typically involve numerous helping agencies, civic leaders, and months of coordinated actions.
At other times, economic downturns spur change by increasing unemployment and underemployment, leaving many employed individuals still unable to make ends meet. This occurs when there aren’t enough jobs offering “living wages.” Such unfortunate circumstances can perpetuate poverty, hunger, and adverse social determinants of health, affecting communities for years to come.
We have also seen how inescapable social and health-related challenges, like COVID-19, have caused community stakeholders to make changes. Many of the food banks and pantries that we serve have completely altered the way they distribute emergency food.
Most have gone to “parking lot” distributions where people drive up in their cars and receive groceries. Other partners have created “box and deliver” programs for at-risk people who are unable to leave their homes due to health concerns.
The common thread among all of these examples is that they involve a collective response from various stakeholders. They recognize the need for collaboration and adaptability to address complex challenges and achieve meaningful impact. This understanding often serves as a powerful motivator for change within communities.
If I were to identify a common motivator for change, it would be a "sense of urgency." It is this urgency that often drives individuals and organizations to take action and address pressing issues. However, we are finding that some stakeholders believe everything is fine in their community, or at least it appears so on the surface. This complacency is dangerous.
Unfortunately, fragmentation, driven by isolation and self-interest, can blind people and organizations to deep-seated issues that they would prefer to avoid discussing. This creates an environment where critical problems are overlooked and ignored. We have heard misguided stakeholders assert, "Poverty, hunger, and other challenges are all being handled by a few helping agencies and the government in our community. There is no need for concern."
These statements reflect a troubling lack of understanding and engagement with the real issues at hand. The belief that a few agencies and government interventions are sufficient to address complex social problems is naïve and shortsighted. The reality is that these issues require a coordinated, community-wide response and ongoing vigilance.
I propose that a lack of realistic awareness and response can be catastrophic to a community's future. Ignoring or downplaying significant challenges can lead to worsening conditions and missed opportunities for meaningful improvement. All stakeholders must recognize the gravity of these issues and work collaboratively to foster sustainable, positive change. Only through such collective effort can we hope to build stronger, more resilient communities.
Unfortunately, rapid change and uncertainty are creating a growing gap between lasting solutions and a community’s effective response to constantly changing and complex challenges. The helping systems, policies, and problem-solving strategies adopted by communities in the past, can no longer keep pace with unrelenting rapid change now.
Albert Einstein once said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
In other words, outdated solutions will not work for contemporary and ever-changing complex challenges. We must be innovative in our thinking and acting. We must be realistic about what needs to be preserved, changed, or created.
Rick Smyre, international consultant and author of Building Capacities for Community Transformation, also says: “If we use old ways of thinking, old ways of acting, and old ways of organizing our strategies, we will not be ready for the present or the future. Unless we begin to search for new ideas, methods, and techniques, we will find we cannot move fast enough, be trustful enough of each other, have enough different solutions available, or understand the realities of constantly changing situations.” (Building capacities for community transformation, by Rick Smyre, Feb. 2009)
Dr. Tom Wolff, who is a nationally recognized consultant on coalition building and community development, suggests: “Our communities and our world face such complex problems that we no longer can solve them by gathering a few experts in a room and letting them dictate change. Many of us now understand that the emerging problems that communities face have such complex origins that we can only fix them if we use comprehensive community problem-solving efforts rather than single-focused approaches. We need to meet and communicate and partner with each other, and we need to include representatives from all parts of our communities.” (Coalition Building and Community Development, by Tom Wolff, 2011)
We have found that visionary community stakeholders often encounter realities and challenges that can impede their advocacy and actions, especially when promoting “new ways of thinking and acting.” It is difficult to grasp a promising future while clinging tightly to the past. This applies to individuals, organizations, institutions, and communities alike.
Many find themselves mired in outdated traditions and heritage-driven approaches that, while effective in the past, have lost relevance in developing authentic, effective, and lasting solutions for today. When allowed to share your passion and advocate for change, focus on addressing the questions that people are asking now, rather than getting stuck on those that are no longer relevant.
Peter Block, a nationally recognized community developer, paints the “big picture” of what communities must do to “move the needle” on complex challenges https://www.peterblock.com/. He said: “The essential challenge is to transform the isolation and self-interest within our communities into connectedness and caring for the whole. We begin by shifting our attention from the problems of community to the possibility of community.”
Transformation is less about improving what already exists and more about creating what doesn't. Most communities lack an active framework for this concept. However, this is shifting as individuals, organizations, and institutions collaborate for the common good and greater impact.
The solution Block refers to is driven by systemic change, involving comprehensive and transformative processes focused on creating what isn’t, rather than merely improving what is. This means that many communities are attempting to solve contemporary problems with outdated traditions, superficial solutions, and conventional thinking. In doing so, they often struggle to create lasting and effective change.
It is increasingly clear to most community stakeholders that no single individual, organization, or government agency has all the information, skills, or resources needed to tackle complex challenges and develop effective, long-lasting solutions.
Transformation requires a new context and culture that fosters change, progress, and growth. This environment can be a community-focused setting or a capacity-building civic framework, rooted in cultural values that underscore what truly matters.
This new context should nurture innovation, encourage broader civic engagement, promote open and honest dialogue, and enable collective community impact to flourish. It must also welcome inclusive participation from the public, private, and social sectors.
This allows for genuine community conversations and cross-sector collaboration aimed at transforming lives. I am excited to share that these community dialogues are happening nationwide, bringing together visionary stakeholders with a new rallying cry: "Now is the time for us to learn how to work together for the common good and greater impact."
Visionary stakeholders believe that now is the time for neighbors, churches, charities, businesses, elected officials, and others to come together to understand the changes affecting their community. They recognize the importance of understanding people's needs and developing lasting solutions through collective action.
I realize that some of you may view this as feasible only in a "perfect world." A few years ago, I might have agreed. However, breakthroughs in technology, collaboration, and systemic change now pave the way for hopes and dreams to be realized.
Many pieces of the puzzle have long been present in most communities but have not been connected meaningfully to reveal the big picture of possibilities. Now, it is possible to connect these pieces in more powerful and productive ways.
This connectivity is not rocket science, but it will require courage, hard work, and time. Nevertheless, I guarantee that the effort will be worthwhile when you witness the remarkable results.
In conclusion, the time for isolated efforts and siloed thinking is over. Now is the time for collaboration and collective action towards a better future for our communities. By working together, we can overcome challenges and create lasting solutions that benefit all members of society. Let us join hands and make a difference.
The time is now. So, let's take action and start making a positive impact! The possibilities are endless when we come together as a community with a shared vision and determination to create change. Let's not wait any longer, the time for action is now.
Remember, it only takes one person to spark change, but it takes a community working together to ignite a movement. So let's be that spark and create a ripple effect of positive change, not just in our communities but worldwide. Let's never underestimate the power of collaboration and collective action.
As we embark on this journey together, always remember - "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much" (Helen Keller). Let's make a difference, together! Join the movement and let's create a brighter future for all.
