How We Work

We feel it is our responsibility to offer more than high quality capacity building and organizational development work. As a community and capacity builder, NCDI also has a commitment to fighting for social equity and against all forms of oppression. This dedication to social justice frames our approach to capacity building in communities of color and other marginalized communities.

There are four phases to NCDI’s Building Capacity for Social Change (BCSC) approach.

Phase One: Listening and Co-Designing the Community Change Strategy (Mapping)

We listen to and learn from the community.  In all of our work we look to the community to develop and deepen our understanding of social conditions, power relationships, cultural dynamics, and complex challenging issues.

We work closely with our partners to co-design the capacity-building strategy and adapt it based on evolving needs.  We engage the organization as a peer, not as an expert.  There are six steps in the co-design process.

1. Hold initial meeting(s)
2. Assign a project team
3. Interview key stakeholders
4. Conduct community research
5. Finalize the work plan and contract
6. Create an ongoing client oversight function or committee

We co-design the change strategy with organizations and communities so that they drive the capacity building effort.

Phase Two: Facilitating a Visioning and Strategy Development Process (Planning)

NCDI works with communities to develop a distinct vision and implementation strategy that can serve as a blueprint for change.  During this process, goals are set in an open forum like an organizational retreat or community-wide meeting; a plan of action is developed with desired results, strategies and timelines; capacity-building needs are identified to sustain the work over time; and a community engagement strategy is defined.

Phase Three: Supporting the Community Building Process Through Action and Learning (Implementing)

There are two parallel strategies guiding our work in communities of color -- taking action to solve problems and learning as much as possilbe to take more informed action.  Thus, one strategy is implementing community building projects to develop leadership, strengthen organizations, solve problems, improve services and address key policy issues.  A related strategy is sharing information about best practices to enable community members to do the best possible work.

We approach our work with the understanding that the interplay of reflection and action is critical for community and organizational growth. We conduct community-driven research, collect and share information on best practices, and connect organizations and communities through peer learning. We document and share information on what we learn during the capacity and community building process. By working in this way, we build organizations’ and communities’ capacity to address deeper issues and formulate solutions to the root causes of problems.

The six interrelated areas of our work to building capacity for social change are:

Community Engagement

Informing, connecting and engaging people in the social change process.

 

Community Organizations

Building strong organizations and networks and developing institutional capacity for social change.

 

Community Relationships

Building relationships and forming viable partnerships across racial, social and cultural communities.

 

Community Development

Improving the quality of life by changing social conditions in the areas of economic well-being, education, health, housing, public safety and the environment.

 

Community Advocacy for Systems Change

Changing institutional policies, practices and modes of investment.

 

Community Research and Evaluation

Documenting and telling the community-change story from the perspective of the community.

Phase Four: Developing Sustainable Organizations and Communities (Sustaining)

The four main goals of our work are:

1. Organizing and engaging people
2. Strengthening community organizations and networks
3. Building the capacity of communities to solve the problems and change the quality of life
4. Influencing thinking and practice in the capacity-building field

In our view, social change is more likely to occur when leadership training for individuals is linked to organizational development programs that, in turn, are linked to community revitalization efforts -- all focused on the grand goal of community transformation.

Thus, for us, it is not enough to simply complete a project or fulfill a contract.  Rather, we build capacity with individuals, organizations and communities to bring about enduring social change.