Naomi Mason’s Post

BLOG: Where is the community in community wealth building? Senior Researcher, Naomi Mason, reflects on her keynote address to the TSI Network conference, five months of working to understand the community wealth building landscape in Scotland and the role that the third sector can play in building the movement from the bottom up. https://ow.ly/qxtw50REq44

"We know that a local, needs-led approach is key in unlocking the many benefits that the community chest projects can have" Professor Kevin Fenton, OHID London Regional Director Learn more about Community chest projects in our latest blog 👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/eBnJadtT

On Oct 18, join us and SPUR and Partnership for the Bay’s Future for a forum exploring the critical role that community involvement plays in creating and implementing policies for equitable housing solutions. Collaborating with the community will provide insights from lived experience, develop trust between the community and government, and is a step towards redressing historical and ongoing inequities in housing. The panel will examine the best practices for engaging the community and identify obstacles communities and policymakers face. https://ow.ly/hOEj50POtnI

I want to share the news of another NSF awarded to us: Place-Based, Human-Centered Networks to Enhance Community Resilience and Equity. Collaborating with my Co-PI Katherine Idziorek, PhD, AICP and Stephen Wong, Ph.D. https://lnkd.in/gzDhZ2NV In this project, we will investigate the opportunities and challenges of implementing micro-mobility and resilience hubs in both a metropolitan coastal city (Seattle) and an inland suburban community (Stillwater, Oklahoma). We anticipate that the outcomes will endorse the use of micro-mobility to enhance social network connectivity, boost community cohesion and capacity, and strengthen both community and national resilience.

With this installment of the Year in Review, we explore how Local Partnerships promote long-term change by convening and coordinating across agencies and taking a systems-approach to their collaboration with the county, state, and national organizations. Featuring examples of Smart Start Local Partnerships creating change based on specific community need. https://lnkd.in/dWpWYpXf

In our next Meet the Pioneers, learn from three communities about how their work generates wealth that supports the local economy. Join Mull and Iona Community Trust, Staffin Community Trust and South Cowal Community Enterprises for this conversation. https://buff.ly/3SdplZ8

📘 Our 2023 Annual Report has now been published, marking a year of achievements, resilience, and progress. From Division One promotion to community engagement and a financial turnaround, read all about our journey, the challenges we've overcome, and our plans for the future. ➡️ bit.ly/48IZ9di

Check out my blog about how communities are leading the way to meaningful change ⬇

COE principles are highly aligned with PNW values of collaboration and innovation. Want to better optimize resources in your community? Attend this upcoming session!

Communities of Excellence 2026 (COE 2026) is an initiative that seeks to improve the quality of life for residents in various communities by utilizing the #CommunitiesofExcellenceFramework. This framework is adapted from the #Baldrige Excellence Framework, a systems framework designed to empower organizations to achieve their goals and enhance results. The framework is revised every two years based on expert input and leading-edge practices. The #COE2026 Framework includes several core components such as community leadership, strategy, focus on residents and customers, measurement and analysis, people resources, community operations, and results. These components encourage communities to approach improvement in a systematic manner, including evaluating and enhancing key processes, deploying these processes consistently, and integrating them to address current and future needs. The framework emphasizes collaboration across various sectors, including health, education, economic vitality, and quality of life, and stresses the importance of systematic collaboration among stakeholders in a community. It is not a simple overnight project but a long-term journey that requires commitment, planning, measurement, and systematic collaboration. Communities of Excellence 2026 is significant for communities, companies, governments, and individuals because it provides a structured approach to addressing community challenges and improving outcomes. By using this framework, communities can become more deliberate and systematic in their improvement efforts, engage more people, and measure progress effectively. It also facilitates the development of strong relationships and trust, promotes more intentional, data-based decisions, and helps communities leverage their unique strengths and assets. Additionally, the framework has gained recognition and support at the national level. Congress has authorized "communities" to be eligible to apply for and receive recognition for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, indicating the importance and effectiveness of systematic community improvement efforts. Learning about and adopting the COE Framework can help communities, companies, governments, and individuals work together more effectively to improve community outcomes, ensuring a stronger, more vibrant community for current and future generations.