Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Public Private Collaboration Showcase: Nov. 20 in Grand Forks

Public Private Collaboration Showcase Nov. 20
“LIVE UNITED – PULL TOGETHER”

The economic downturn underscores that organizations must work together to stretch resources. Learn how local organizations are doing that at the Non-Profit Summit on Collaboration to Preserve Quality of Life in our area.

The event is Nov. 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Alerus Center.

The Summit follows training on how to collaborate effectively, sponsored by the City of Grand Forks, United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Area, the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region and The Otto Bremer Foundation. Economic uncertainty is one reason that foundations are calling for groups to work more closely.

Thomasine Heitkamp, of the United Way board, chairs the committee that organized the training. “Collaboration takes a lot of effort but it can get stronger results,” she said. “Making changes in how systems work together is key in these difficult economic times.”

Karen Ray, a nationally recognized expert on collaboration, gave a day-long workshop on how to turn conflict into cooperation and how to keep people accountable, motivated and enthusiastic about their mission. Ray is the author of the “Collaboration Handbook,” a standard reference for organizations to strengthen their ability to make system-wide changes. She will return for Thursday’s showcase on local collaboration.

Randi Roth, new executive director of the Bremer Foundation, will visit Grand Forks for the first time since accepting that role. The Bremer Foundation has been a generous partner supporting local communities. Roth will speak at the Summit, which is expected to attract local elected leaders, prominent members of non-profit boards as well as employees of non-profits and public agencies.

The Otto Bremer Foundation has a long-standing interest in helping non-profits serve people more effectively. It has grants specifically for that.

In the Red River Valley alone, it has awarded 83 grants to help nonprofits increase their organizational effectiveness -- worth a total of $1.6 million.

Local recipients of organizational effectiveness grants include:
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute
Catholic Charities of North Dakota
Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Region
Community Violence Intervention Center
Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance, Inc., Hillsboro
FirstLink
League of Women Voters Education Fund
Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota
Mental Health Association of North Dakota
North Dakota Special Olympics
North Dakota State University
Northlands Rescue Mission
Third Street Clinic
Village Family Service Center
Warren/Alvarado/Oslo Public School Education Foundation

UNITED WAY of GF, EGF and Region
CONTACT: PAT BERGER, CEO, 775-8661, pberger@unitedwaygfegf.org

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