Presentation at the 2011 Bonner Summer Leadership Institute on the plans to develop a New Jersey PolicyOptions Network.

1. POLICYOPTIONS
Establishing a Statewide Network
Pre-Conference Workshop — 1 June 2011
Bonner Summer Leadership Institute @ Siena College

2. AGENDA
• Theory of Change
• Bonner Today
• PolicyOptions Parts
• Measuring Impact
• Statewide Structure
• Start-Up Steps
• Next Steps

3. NJ EXAMPLE — IMMIGRATION
Issue Immigrant integration and related issues.
Direct Service Citizenship application | Welcoming Events
Issue Education Documentary | Forums | Service Reflection
CBR Resource mapping
Issue Briefs Path to Citizenship | Ed Access | Labor
News Digest Local | State | National
Networking Statewide org | Campus prog | Social Med.

4. THEORY OF CHANGE

5. EMERGENT CHANGE
Less conscious
More conscious
A Three-fold Theory of Social Change and Implications for Practice, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
By Doug Reeler, of the Community Development Resource Association, 2007

6. TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE
Through crisis and
unlearning
A Three-fold Theory of Social Change and Implications for Practice, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
By Doug Reeler, of the Community Development Resource Association, 2007

7. PROJECTABLE CHANGE
Working the plan
A Three-fold Theory of Social Change and Implications for Practice, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
By Doug Reeler, of the Community Development Resource Association, 2007

8. CHANGE MAKING

9. CHANGE MAKING
Prepare

10. CHANGE MAKING
Prepare Plan

11. CHANGE MAKING
Prepare Plan Do

12. CHANGE MAKING
Change!
Prepare Plan Do

13. Prepare Plan Do Change!

14. Prepare Plan Do Change!
Step
Activities
Example

15. Prepare Plan Do Change!
Information
Step
& Analysis
Assessment
Activities Options
Resources
Leap Academy
Example planning grant

16. Prepare Plan Do Change!
Information
Step Networking
& Analysis
Assessment
Dialogue
Activities Options
Organizing
Resources
Leap Academy Community
Example planning grant meetings with
parents, others

17. Prepare Plan Do Change!
Information
Step Networking Implement
& Analysis
Assessment
Dialogue Public Policy
Activities Options
Organizing Programs
Resources
NJ Charter
School
Leap Academy Community
Legislation
Example planning grant meetings with
followed by
parents, others
formation of
Leap Academy

18. Prepare Plan Do Change!
Information
Step Networking Implement Results
& Analysis
Assessment
Dialogue Public Policy
Activities Options Evaluation
Organizing Programs
Resources
NJ Charter
100%
School
Leap Academy Community graduation &
Legislation
Example planning grant meetings with college
followed by
parents, others acceptance
formation of
rate
Leap Academy

19. Coalition-led System Change
Organization Change

20. David McCandless — InformationIsBeautiful.net

21. Data Discrete Elements
words, numbers, code,
categorize, calculate, collate, quantify, collect tables, databases
David McCandless — InformationIsBeautiful.net

22. Linked Elements
Information sentences, paragraphs, equations,
concepts, ideas, questions, simple
contextualize, compare, converse, connect, filter, priortize, order, frame stories
Data Discrete Elements
words, numbers, code,
categorize, calculate, collate, quantify, collect tables, databases
David McCandless — InformationIsBeautiful.net

23. Organized Information
Knowledge chapters, theories, axioms, conceptual
frameworks, complex stories, facts
structure, interpret, evaluate, deconstruct
Linked Elements
Information sentences, paragraphs, equations,
concepts, ideas, questions, simple
contextualize, compare, converse, connect, filter, priortize, order, frame stories
Data Discrete Elements
words, numbers, code,
categorize, calculate, collate, quantify, collect tables, databases
David McCandless — InformationIsBeautiful.net

24. Applied Knowledge
books, paradigms, systems, churches,
Wisdom philosophies, schools of thought, poetry, belief
systems, traditions, principles, truths
weave, embody,
discriminate, synthesize
Organized Information
Knowledge chapters, theories, axioms, conceptual
frameworks, complex stories, facts
structure, interpret, evaluate, deconstruct
Linked Elements
Information sentences, paragraphs, equations,
concepts, ideas, questions, simple
contextualize, compare, converse, connect, filter, priortize, order, frame stories
Data Discrete Elements
words, numbers, code,
categorize, calculate, collate, quantify, collect tables, databases
David McCandless — InformationIsBeautiful.net

25. BONNER TODAY

26. BONNER NETWORK
75+ schools & growing

27. BONNER SERVICE
Hours of Service
Environment
58,329
Human Need Education
340,549 479,048
June 2010 - May 2011

28. BONNER ALUMNI
5,000 & growing

29. ALUMNI CAREERS
Business Non-Profit
35% 34%
Government
31%
out of 1,054 responses (2010 survey)

30. POLICYOPTIONS PARTS

31. PARTNER SURVEY
Need vs Status
92%
47%
89%
19%
87%
28%
85%
25%
92%
24%
88%
34%
Need / Highly Need Occurring

32. PARTNER SURVEY
Need vs Status
92%
Direct Action (service)
47%
89%
Capacity Building
19%
87%
Convening
28%
85%
CBR 25%
92%
Policy News & Analysis
24%
88%
Community Info Hub 34%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Need / Highly Need Occurring

33. PARTNER SURVEY
Need vs Status
92%
Direct Action (service)
47%
89%
Capacity Building
19%
87%
Convening
28%
85%
CBR 25%
92%
Policy News & Analysis
24%
88%
Community Info Hub 34%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Need / Highly Need Occurring

34. PARTNER SURVEY
Need vs Status
92%
Direct Action (service)
47%
89%
Capacity Building
19%
87%
Convening
28%
85%
CBR 25%
92%
Policy News & Analysis
24%
88%
Community Info Hub 34%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Need / Highly Need Occurring

35. Advocacy
Direct Service
Capacity
Acting Building
Training &
Networking
Working Groups,
Strategic Social Media
Planning
Issue, Place,
Organization
Public
PolicyOptions Education
Daily News Digest
Thinking & Issue Briefs
Speakers, Forums,
Testifying
Community-
Based
Research

36. Advocacy
Direct Service
Acting
Capacity
Building Networking
Training & Working Groups,
Strategic Social Media
Planning
Issue, Place,
Organization
Public
PolicyOptions Education
Daily News Digest
Thinking
Speakers, Forums,
& Issue Briefs Testifying
Community-
Based
Research

38. SEARCH FOR “HOMELESS”
All 60.5
USA 20.9
New Jersey 11.9
Trenton 1.78
0 15 30 45 60
million hits

39. SEARCH FOR...
“Available funding for homelessness prevention New Jersey”
2.77 million hits

40. DAILY NEWS DIGEST
TYPES OF NEWS
• Funding • Court Rulings
• Regulations • Meetings
• Legislation • Publications
• Executive Actions • Assessments

42. ISSUE BRIEFS
KEY QUESTIONS
• What is the nature & extent of the problem?
• What’s been tried in the past to address it?
• What’s being done now?
• What are the distinctly different approaches to
addressing this issue?

43. ISSUE BRIEF
WIKI TEMPLATE
Issue Overview Page Local / State / National Pages
• Goal Statement • Scope of the Problem
• Policy Options & • Past Policy
Model Programs
• Current Policy
• Local/State/National
• Key Organizations, Programs
• Glossary of Terms & People

44. NETWORKING

45. NETWORK FUNCTIONS
Innovation generation of novelty (new knowledge, products)
Diffusion rapid spread of ideas, products
Combination assembling of new capacities
Alignment formation of new identity/brand
Mobilization reaching and activating many people
Exchange sharing of information widely
Assessment provision of diverse feedback/evaluation
Advocacy influencing existing decision making structures
Delivery bringing resources and assistance to increase capacity
Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Network Power for Philanthropy and Nonprofits.”
Available at www.barrfoundation.org.

46. SOCIAL CHANGE NETWORKS
Connectivity Alignment Special-function
Mission is soley to Mission is to both Sets a specific goal
connect people connect and to be accomplished
and/or develop alignment by the network.
organizations to among members,
one another so that network
members share a
sense of identity
and/or value
proposition.
Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Network Power for Philanthropy and Nonprofits.”
Available at www.barrfoundation.org.

47. NETWORK WEAVERS
• Understand the structure and needs of the
sector
• Improve knowledge sharing
• Catalyze and facilitate relationship development
• Begin
to bring organizations together to work
towards common goals
Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Network Power for Philanthropy and Nonprofits.”
Available at www.barrfoundation.org.

48. NETWORK IMPACT
Networks can... Because they...
Increase efficiency • allowdeep specializations to be
linked rather than created under
one roof.
Increase impact • canleverage the assets that
already exist in a system by
connecting them to each other.
Build remarkable • mobilize diverse and flexible
capacities individuals or organizations.
Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Network Power for Philanthropy and Nonprofits.”
Available at www.barrfoundation.org.

49. NETWORK BUILDING PROCESS
1 2 3
Understand network needs, Use a portfolio of tools/ Enable “virtuous cycle,”
map connectivity and build actions to build connections starting with stronger
relationships with key among network players and network
players strengthen network
structure
Stronger network
Improve information flow
Conduct leaning / needs
assessment
Make direct connections;
facilitate group convenings More effective
organizations
Build / strengthen network
intermediaries
Map network structure
and connectivity Stronger, more
Identify and connect to collaborative sector
new ideas and resources
Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Network Power for Philanthropy and Nonprofits.” Available at www.barrfoundation.org.

50. NETWORK STAGES
1) Scattered Fragments 2) Single Hub-and-Spoke
3) Multi-Hub Small-World Network 4) Core / Periphery
from “Building Smart Communities through Network Weaving” by Valdis Krebs and June Holley © 2002-2006

51. MEASURING IMPACT

52. LOGIC MODEL
Community Need Inputs Activities
Outputs Intermediate Outputs End Outcomes

53. CAPACITY BUILDING METRICS
Improved outcomes with the same level of
Efficiency /
resources; improved or consistent quality of
Efficacy
services with fewer resources
Number of new people served, new
Scale / Reach populations served, and/ or new or
expanded services
Additional resources or assets garnered
through capacity-building activities (such as
Leverage
funding, volunteers, in-kind support, and
partnerships)
Corporation for National & Community Service, Draft Capacity Building Achievement Measures, May 2011

54. CAPACITY BUILDING METRICS
Organizational Infrastructure & Resources
Technology Database development | Knowledge management | Social media
Financial Resources Fundraising plans | Committee recruited | Resources identified
Volunteer Generation Roles defined | Plan developed | Volunteers recruited | Recognized
Org. Management & Operations Improve internal operation systems | Improved service delivery
Community Assessment Plan designed | New data collected & analyzed | Findings reported
Community Awareness PR media plan developed | Articles, PSAs & social media developed
Partnership and Collaboration Networking meetings held & systems created | MOUs developed
Community Leadership Trainings offered | Leadership recruited for new/expanded projects
Program Development, Delivery & Evaluation
Program Development & Delivery New programs piloted | Existing program expanded | Assessments
Outreach Plan developed targeting beneficiaries | Communication tools made
Materials Development Training manuals created | Staff trained | Materials assessed
Performance Measurement Systems piloted | Logic model established | Staff trained
Corporation for National & Community Service, Draft Capacity Building Achievement Measures, May 2011

55. NETWORK IMPACT METRICS
Quantitative Qualitative
✓ Efficiency: on average, how ✓ Specific needs identified and
many steps it takes for any met
node to reach another node ✓ Information flow improvements
(lower is better) ✓ Spread of “best practices” or
✓ Resilience: how dependent the new ideas
network is on key individuals ✓ New or stronger hubs/weavers
✓ Awareness: the number of acting as connectors
individuals within the horizon of ✓ New collaborative activity
a given person/node ✓ New resources connected or
introduced to the network
✓ New shared resources serving
a greater number of
organizations
Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Network Power for Philanthropy and Nonprofits.” Available at www.barrfoundation.org.

56. NETWORK BUILDING METRICS
Network Weaver Network Level Sector Level
Outputs
Activities Outcomes Outcomes
✓ Identify needs, assets, ✓ Sector map ✓ Statistical network ✓ Higher quality
and existing networks ✓ New connections... strength measures programs delivered
✓ Share knowledge and ‣ between weaver and ‣ Efficiency ✓ More clients served
ideas network members ‣ Resilience ✓ Underserved groups
✓ Make individual ‣ among network ‣ Leadership / Awareness better served
connections members
✓ Observations of “other ✓ More integrated
✓ Convene diverse ‣ boundary spanning smart network” delivery (tied to higher
groups to stimulate connections indicators quality
new thinking and
✓ Synthesis of needs and ‣ Innovations emerge ✓ Greater capacity of
connectivity ideas for projects and spread across sector to respond to /
✓ Build capacity of ✓ Convenings of diverse network survive change
intermediaries participants ‣ Intermediaries
✓ Spot new ideas and ✓ Projects facilitated by stronger / playing
leaders and support weavers in process valuable roles Observed by Weaver
their growth/spread
✓ New resources ‣ More voices get to
✓ Connect network brought into the table for issues with Measured by InFlow
members to potential network sector-level impact
resources
✓ Support given to ‣ Natural collaboration
intermediaries increases (no weaver)
Measurement TBD
Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Network Power for Philanthropy and Nonprofits.” Available at www.barrfoundation.org.

57. STRUCTURE

58. NEW JERSEY PILOT 2011-12
• Four cities with campus hubs
‣ Camden (Rutgers), Trenton(TCNJ, Rider, Princeton), New
Brunswick (Rutgers), Newark (Rutgers)
• PolicyOptions AmeriCorps
‣ 1 VISTA, 4 campus-based, 1 partner-based
• Key Issue Areas
‣ Education (after-school, achievement gap, college access,
youth development)
‣ Poverty (child hunger & nutrition, food stamp enrollment,
workfoce development)

59. NJ POLICYOPTIONS NETWORK
Advisory/Editorial
Statewide Director
Board
AmeriCorps*VISTA
NJ PolicyOptions
Coordinator
Camden Trenton New Brunswick Newark

60. CAMPUS STAFFING MODEL
Community-Based Research Advisory/Editorial
Director Board
AmeriCorps
PolicyOptions
Coordinator
Conduct
CBR & Issue Briefs Maintain local
Research PolicyOptions.org website
Work Study
Students in Graduate School
& Bonner
CBR/SL Courses Students
Students

61. NATIONAL POLICYOPTIONS
NETWORK
Advisory/Editorial
National Staff
Board
USA
New Jersey North Carolina Kentucky New Mexico

62. START-UP STEPS

63. NJ START-UP PLAN
Daily News Digest Data Sources | Daily Scan List | Entries
Issue Briefs Identify Gaps & Priorities | Research
Issue Education Issue Understanding | Solutions | Status
Networking Network Mapping | Tool Development
Public Relations Brochure | Social Media | Launch
Next Steps Guides | Recruiting | Training Modules

64. DAILY NEWS DIGEST
Straight policy news:
funding, legislation, regulations,
News
publications, assessments,
Categories
meetings, court action, &
executive action
Government:
Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Sources Non-Profits:
Foundations, Think Tanks,
Advocacy, Associations, Service
Issue 11 Major Issue Areas
Assignments Local | State | Federal | Global

65. Publish in...
RESEARCH WORKFLOW
Email
News &
News
Reporters Research
Digest
Enter
(using Policy
Collect Resources Website
Options.org
website)
Issue Issue
Policy Analysts Briefs Briefs
(using wiki)

66. Executive Legislative Non-Profit &
Courts
Categories Branch Branch Foundations
NEWS
Available Funds
Grants Awarded
Proposed Regulations
Final Regulations
Proposed Legislation
Final Legislation
Executive Action
Court Ruling
Meeting
Publication
Assessment
RESEARCH
Organization
Program
Policy Options
Data Sources
Key Player
Issue Brief

67. Sources Local/County State National
• local govt sites (depts, • Governors website • whitehouse.gov
mayor, county • Department websites • regulations.gov
Executive managers) • statewide newspapers, • fedthread.org
• local newspapers, news news sites, or blogs • gpo.gov | govpulse.us
Branch sites, or blogs • statelocalgov.net • Federal Dept sites
• stateline.org
• local govt sites (city • State Legislature,• thomas.gov
council, county committees & elected • congress.org
Legislative commission) leaders sites • govtrack.us
Branch • local newspapers, news • statewide newspapers, • opencongress.org
sites, or blogs news sites, or blogs • washingtonwatch.com
• FoundationCenter.org • FoundationCenter.org • FoundationCenter.org
• State network or • State network or • foundationcenter.org/
Foundations council of foundations council of foundations pnd/
or grantmakers or grantmakers • www.cof.org
• Grantee lists of funders • Grantee lists of funders • change.org
• local United Way • Issue-focused networks • sourcewatch.org
Non-Profits • www2.guidestar.org or associations • futurity.org
• State non-profit center • national associations
• www2.guidestar.org • think tanks

68. Issue Areas
City / County State National Global
Arts, Culture & Media
Budget
Citizenship & Government
Economy & Jobs
Education
Environment
Health
Housing
International
Justice
Poverty
Youth & Families

70. NEXT STEPS

71. PLANS
• NJ Pilot — Summer 2011 > Fall 2011 > Spring 2012
• National Networking
‣ Link common Bonner campus issue-based teams
‣ Recruit issue experts to serve as “contributing editors”
‣ Raise funds for national and state research director(s)
‣ Improve policyoptions.org website, guides, training
• Expand to New Local/State Networks — interest?