QTS Data Centers’ Post

If you've been following along on the creative engagement pilot strategies we've shared occurring in rural Oregon, you'll notice they have something in common. They all take a regional collective impact approach. Collective impact indicates a network of community members or organizations who learn together, align goals, and integrate actions to achieve collective change. Benefits include stronger and deeper impact, avoiding duplication of efforts, and leveraging the strengths and assets of each participating organization. Participants of collective impact models gain more ‘muscle’ to leverage government grants and advocate for change.

If you've been following along on the creative engagement pilot strategies we've shared occurring in rural Oregon, you'll notice they have something in common. They all take a regional collective impact approach. Collective impact indicates a network of community members or organizations who learn together, align goals, and integrate actions to achieve collective change. Benefits include stronger and deeper impact, avoiding duplication of efforts, and leveraging the strengths and assets of each participating organization. Participants of collective impact models gain more ‘muscle’ to leverage government grants and advocate for change.

If you've been following along on the creative engagement pilot strategies we've shared occurring in rural Oregon, you'll notice they have something in common. They all take a regional collective impact approach. Collective impact indicates a network of community members or organizations who learn together, align goals, and integrate actions to achieve collective change. Benefits include stronger and deeper impact, avoiding duplication of efforts, and leveraging the strengths and assets of each participating organization. Participants of collective impact models gain more ‘muscle’ to leverage government grants and advocate for change.

The Trust for Civic Life and $8 million to fund civic participation in rural communities are examples of what philanthropy can accomplish when funders work together. That was the goal when Stephen Heinz, president of Rockefeller Brothers Fund, asked Carnegie Corporation of New York to join a funder collaborative a year ago, resulting in an early commitment of $3.5 million from the foundation. Today the collaborative has 15 funders. The Trust’s work is grounded in research that was funded by philanthropy and conducted by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Its report titled "Our Common Purpose" made a strong impression. It provides pragmatic, nonpartisan approaches to countering mistrust and division in our society. A second round of grants to support civic entrepreneurs is planned for later this year, and if all goes as planned, the collaborative will invest $50 million over the next five years. https://lnkd.in/ebyPnCVt

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

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.

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.

💮A month full of events in April with something for everyone: a Special Edition of Office Hours for the family peer workforce, to strengthening father-inclusive practices, or learning about family-led crisis planning at Family Connections, and more to come. While you're there, check out the new "Words Matter" weekly series in May. Together, we hope to move forward in advancing equity for everyone through language. 💮https://ow.ly/CP2f50R2LA4

Empowerment begins from within. Discover the transformative impact of this initiative and join us on the journey to resilience and strength. Together, we can build a community that not only survives but thrives. Learn more at https://hubs.ly/Q02jLbGZ0

In case you missed it, PNC’s latest Corporate Responsibility Report is now available. Learn more about the progress we’ve made toward our commitments.