Aug
21
2024
by Hector Malvido, Senior Manager of Partnerships
For a decade, the Building Movement Project (BMP) worked in New Mexico with service providers committed to amplifying and strengthening the voice and power of their program participants through social change. One outcome of that work was the Security to Well-Being Framework, a tool and visual description of how to move from providing basic needs to creating community and agency – wellbeing – for people using program services.
In late 2023, the Building Movement Project created a community of practice for Direct Service Organizations who wanted to step into service and social change work. We believe that service organizations are uniquely positioned to influence broad social change, that is, to deepen tf current services and transform the systems that create the need to begin with.
The cohort revolved around the Security to Wellbeing Framework and its 3 key strategies essential to intentionally and sustainably begin to or expand the social change work of any organization:
- Internal Alignment
- Leadership, staff and board 1) know the social change priorities for the organization, 2) agree to their roles in the social change process, and 3) allocate resources to social change activities.
- Client Voice
- Clients/program participants understand that the organization values t their experiences and opinions and they are motivated and provided multiple ways to engage in shaping programs, becoming leaders in the organization, and participating in social change activities
- Collective ActionÂ
- Multiple service organizations recognize shared values and alignment on social change priorities, and work together to effectively implement strategies that change policies and systems for community benefit.
Through this cohort, BMP created a space for learning and community building with direct service organizations to offer a rich and meaningful experience for participating organizations and use their experiences in the series to improve and inform the development of the Security to Wellbeing Framework.
The Cohort
The cohort was composed of 10 different organizations from around the country, each bringing their own perspectives and experiences navigating different geographies, sizes and budgets, service needs, and political dynamics. As different as each organization was from one another, what they all shared in common was their desire to identify their role in movement work and find ways to move towards becoming a service and social change organization.
| Organization Name | Location | Issue Area |
|---|---|---|
| Community Schools in Memphis | Memphis, TN | Education |
| Everyone Home DC | Washington, DC | Housing/Homelessness |
| Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama | Birmingham, AL | Diversity, Equity, & InclusionEconomic JusticeEconomic MobilityEducationGender-based violenceHousing / HomelessnessImmigrationRacial JusticeTenant’s RightsVoting Rights |
| Immigrant Social Services Inc. | New York, NY | Child CareDiversity, Equity, & InclusionEducationHealth / Mental HealthRacial Justice |
| Partnership for Resilience | Flossmoor, IL | Diversity, Equity, & InclusionEducationEnvironmental JusticeHealth/Mental HealthPolicing & Public Safety |
| Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Spaces (PEERS) | Oakland, CA | Health / Mental Health |
| Project ANAR | Oakland, CA | Immigration |
| Shenandoah LGBTQ Center | Staunton, VA | Health / Mental HealthHousing / HomelessnessLGBTQ+ Rights |
| Together for Brothers | Albuquerque, NM | Diversity, Equity, & InclusionTransit Justice |
| Weld Seattle | Seattle, WA | Economic JusticeEconomic MobilityHousing / Homelessness |
“The two hours flew by. I love learning from the folks at BMP and other people in the cohort. Having multiple facilitators really makes for an engaging meeting. “
Abby Sypek, Everyone Home DC
What we did together
Over the course of three months, the framework’s content was broken down into a series of modules with practices and tools that guide service providers to expand and reflect on their work. The modules focus on how service providers can include client well-being, helping organizations navigate the process of integrating social change work that is aligned with their mission, values, capacity, and infrastructure.
In our sessions, we dove deep into issues cohort members were facing in their communities, sourcing knowledge from both the framework and other cohort participants r to apply learnings and make lessons tangible. At the end of the series, our goal focused on supporting cohort members to:
- Understand what Social Change work is and its relationship to service organizations
- Explore ideas that will generate internal alignment within their organization or group around social issues and opportunities to address them
- Take stock of their current work and new strategies that center community voices
- Identify opportunities for building relationships with organizations and stakeholders in their ecosystem to advance and deepen their social change work
- Create plans of action to integrate social change strategies into their bodies of work
| Module 1 Early March 2024 | Module 2 Late March 2024 | Module 3 Mid April 2024 | Module 4 Early May 2024 |
| Intro to Security to Wellbeing Framework | Theory of Social Change & Internal Alignment | Client Voice & Collective Action | Moving forward into Action! |
Once the modules were completed, BMP offered a brief period of Technical Assistance support for participating organizations who wanted to support through the ideation and implementation of strategies learned from the series. Our Technical Assistance offerings ranged from supporting organizations in creating a committee focused on implementing key strategies to helping them build out a ladder of engagement that would see the people they serve develop their leadership skills.
It was during the Technical Assistance support that the framework, its tools, and key strategies were really put to the test. Each cohort member faced nuanced, challenging, and in-real time issues shedding light on how challenging it can be, without additional support, to apply what was learned in the modules.Â
“The Framework was helpful in reframing for me that all of these organizational strategies are important and can inform/expand our org’s work… but so much can (and should) be done in an ecosystem. There are strategies that do not seem immediately tangible internally, but do when considering the broader landscape of partners. “
– AnhThu Nguyen, Shenandoah LGBTQ Center
What is coming up next
The cohort highlighted direct service organizations’ interest in social change work and the need for guidance and support in making it happen, building on their assets, issue focus, and the dynamics at play in their communities.
We are excited to share that we plan to launch a 2nd Cohort in 2025 for direct service organizations interested – so please keep your eyes peeled for more information coming soon!
In addition to the possibility of future cohorts, we are working on publishing the Security to Wellbeing Facilitator’s Guide! The purpose of the Facilitator’s Guide is to support change-makers within direct service organizations in their work to help their nonprofit become a Service and Social Change Organization with tools, discussion and facilitation prompts, and so much more. Please stay-tuned for when it becomes available for download on BMP’s website.
“This framework and series are outstanding. I’ve rarely experienced such a skillful approach to moving direct service organizations toward social change work. The emphasis on finding our role in the ecosystem, thinking carefully about what we can contribute is a refreshing change.“
– Sarah Marxer, PEERS
Complete the form below to receive updates on the 2025 cohort and the release of the Security to Wellbeing Facilitator’s Guide.
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