Washington, DC is a world capital, the seat of the United States government, and the site of numerous national institutions and monuments. But it is also a city (and in many functions, a state) that is a vital multi-ethnic urban home to almost 600,000 people in nearly 150 neighborhoods. The District of Columbia (DC) has a vigorous local government and an active civic life. It is also where members of our network of practitioners live or work.

Our Approach

Collaboration DC promotes and supports the use of collaborative approaches for solving the difficult and divisive challenges facing DC. Experience shows that successful communities are those where people work together collaboratively to meet their challenges, solve problems, and create a shared vision. Looking around DC one finds both successful collaborative initiatives and challenges where people cannot find a way to bridge differences and work together constructively. Collaboration DC’s goal is to contribute to the city’s success by strengthening the capacity of citizens and leaders to use collaborative approaches and solve community problems.

What kinds of issues do we work on?
There are complex, seemingly intractable issues where new levels of cooperation and joint effort are essential for finding breakthrough solutions. Two such issues in DC are securing academic achievement by all children; and meeting the housing, economic and quality of life needs of city residents where development and new investment are bringing change to their neighborhoods.

What does Collaboration DC offer?
Collaboration DC offers facilitation, training, process design, assessment, and consultation. We organize, manage and facilitate processes with multiple participants engaged in sustained work over time. In the network’s toolbox, we also have the capacity for less traditional strategies for fostering collaboration, including list serves and websites. With a broad network of practitioners, Collaboration DC works hard to build teams that match the needs of unique situations.

Collaboration DC engages in monitoring and evaluation of our work to learn from what we do, and share knowledge with the community, and the larger field. We connect local collaboration professionals through a periodic Practitioner Roundtable.   

Upcoming Events

Fri. Sept. 12: Building Stronger Communities through Community Benefits Agreements. Co-sponsored by WREN and
the D.C Neighborhood College. 5-9:00 PM at GWU, 1957 E St NW 7th Floor. Call 202-610-0005 (JSA) or email your RSVP to Mariah@washingtonregionalequity.net, please include “CBA Event” in the subject line of your email.

Recent Events

Wed. May 21: Community Benefits Agreements, Part 3. Join a diverse group of regional community leaders in discussing how these tools can contribute to greater regional equity.

Sat. April 26: Ward 6 Education Forum - Developing an
Agenda for Excellence in Our Public Schools, chaired by Councilman Tommy Wells and State Board of Education Vice President Lisa Raymaond. 10AM--12:30 PM at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St NE (flyer)

Tue. Mar. 18: School Community Meeting on the future direction of Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School, 659 G St NE facilitated by Collaboration DC (summary)

Fri. Feb. 29: A briefing of community change projects developed by Cohort 3 of the DC Neighborhood College (Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, George Washington University) 6:30pm to 9:00pm at the Old City Council Chamber, 441 4th Street NW, 1st Floor (202-994-5309 or dcnc@gwu.edu )

Sat. Feb. 23: Workshop on Negotiating Community Benefits Agreements at the Ward 5 Economic Development Summit at Catholic University (read more)

 Current Projects

Equitable Development:

Negotiating Community Benefits Agreements

Public School Transitions

  Noteworthy Resources

    Recent Projects

- Chancellor's Forums on School Reorganization, 12/07-1/08

- Chancellor's Youth Education Town Hall (Nov. 2007)

- Mayor's Education Town Halls (Summer 2007)

- Double the Numbers Coalition Workshop (April 2007)

- Mayor's HIV Summit (April 2007)