True collaboration involves a group of people sharing their skills and ideas with the purpose of achieving a common objective, and in the case of the NRWC that is catalyzing equity for individuals who have been impacted by the justice system. Having different ideas, perspectives, and expertise at the table creates innovative solutions. The less collaboration that occurs, the less opportunities that are created. Through collaboration we can help critical stakeholders like employers walk away with learnings that allow for more innovation, making processes and procedures more efficient. Listening and learning from other groups can help us all reach our goals.
How do you envision collaborative work improving our impact?
By working together through the NRWC, instead of in silos, we’ve been given a unique opportunity to learn what other groups are doing that is working in order to expand our collective impact. I’ve seen the NRWC bring groups together to collaborate that otherwise may not have- and the results are innovative solutions that help justice-involved individuals succeed when it comes to reentry and shift the narrative about people who have been incarcerated. True collaboration in this area allows, and encourages, justice-involved voices to be at the table – and these voices are crucial in designing programs that meaningfully address their needs.
