Dialogs for Change Competitors

People everywhere are working together in new ways to create a more just and equitable world within their organizations, their communities, and beyond. At IISC, we build the collaborative capacity of individuals, organizations, and networks to accelerate social change. For nearly 30 years, we’ve worked with thousands of partners to advance racial equity and social justice by modeling, practicing, and teaching the skills and tools of collaboration. Our approach is rooted in three essential lenses: 💛 Building power, pursuing equity, ensuring inclusion 💛 Leveraging networks for social change 💛 Harnessing love as a force for social transformation Through our consulting services and workshops, we strengthen the ability of people and organizations to work together more effectively, whether designing equitable decision-making processes, facilitating powerful convenings, or building cross-sector coalitions for systemic change. We know that transformational change happens when those most impacted have a seat at the table. That’s why we are committed to supporting grassroots leaders, organizations, and networks in shaping the policies and decisions that affect their lives and communities. By fostering collaboration with purpose, we help shift systems so that historically oppressed communities gain an equitable share of power and resources, enabling them to thrive, lead, and drive lasting change.

CEPP is a nonprofit organization with longstanding experience in the field of criminal justice. For over 40 years, CEPP has worked collaboratively with justice system professionals and their partners to improve their justice systems and facilitate equitable, systemic, and sustainable change. We believe our criminal legal systems should work for all, and that all justice should be community justice. CEPP works on projects across the spectrum of the criminal legal system – from pretrial to sentencing, as well as corrections, probation, parole, and reintegration. Our projects focus on changing the status quo and reimagining justice solutions. We work to reduce reliance on incarceration, strengthen communities, and improve outcomes for everyone impacted by the criminal legal system. We bring expertise in group facilitation and collaboration, training and education, change management, research and national best practices, and practical working knowledge and skills in implementing evidence-based practices and sustainable programs. Over CEPP’s long history, we have worked in every state in the country, at local, state, and federal levels. When engaged with a jurisdiction, we provide structure to a deliberative process and bring lessons from empirical research and practical experience. CEPP does not dictate the solutions, but rather assists jurisdictions with crafting their own policies and practices.

As the only organization in the US working nationwide to build participatory democracy at the grassroots level, Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) has supported the civic participation of more than 750,000 people in directly deciding how to invest $400 million in community projects in over 30 cities. We are transforming democracy from the ground up, exercising the collective muscle necessary for a system of governance that centers the needs and voices of those most impacted by oppression and inequities. We know from 15 years of experience that participatory budgeting and other participatory democratic practices that are significant, equitable, and accessible are the best remedy for unresponsive and harmful governments because they connect everyday people - including those traditionally left out of public decision-making - to the mechanisms of local government in a way that shifts power and creates real solutions to real problems.