Category: Uncategorized
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New Year, New Intention: Finding Purpose in the Pause
As 2025 begins, the air feels thick—literally and figuratively. The hazy smoke of wildfires sweeping through Los Angeles has cast an eerie shadow, a stark reminder of the climate crisis, and what can happen when critical systems are out of balance . Meanwhile, news channels are filled with a cacophony of polarized voices, making it…
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Election Special! Collective Decision-Making for Networks
kate@shinelabassociates.org With the presidential election just a month away, there’s a collective sense of anticipation as the country waits to see how things unfold. While not every network decision we make is of such magnitude (think event planning or new memberships), navigating group decision-making can still be challenging. Luckily, Shine Lab Associates has a few…
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Getting Unstuck in Collaborative Planning and Decision-Making
“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead. There’s something magical about bringing together a group of passionate individuals to create meaningful change. The energy in the room is palpable, the ideas are fresh, and…
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Flies in the Kitchen: What Are Your Network’s Warning Signs?
kate@shinelabassociates.org This summer, our house was invaded by flies. Gnats, house flies, drain flies—you name it, they were there. In our quest to banish them, we uncovered the grim root issues: a faulty sump pump, cracked kitchen pipes, and a damp basement downstream of it all. The flies were merely symptoms – outcomes of deeper,…
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Showing Wins: Measurement and Evaluation for Networks and Systems
kate@shinelabassociates.org Systems change–digging into the many roots of an issue–is complex, multi-layered, and dynamic work, and requires a diverse spectrum of stakeholders in order to make large-scale change possible. Over the years, more funders and organizers have employed networks to take on such challenges, and with the right combination of time, trust, and targeted support…
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Juneteenth: Holding Space for Reflection and Action
As a fledgling organization in the interconnected world of social change, we here at Shine Lab Associates wanted to shine a light on the importance of Juneteenth. So as the two of us are wont to do, we found ourselves asking–what should we say? What can we do? How do we (read: white people) respectfully…
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Embracing the Seasonality of Work: A Strategic Approach for Network Collaboration
kate@shinelabassociates.org Anyone who has ever tried to organize a large meeting during the winter or summer knows the challenge: out-of-office messages, holiday vacations, family visits—it can feel like productivity has been put on hold. Attempting to force through gatherings during these times is akin to planting seeds in the height of summer and expecting them…
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Unlocking the Power of Networks for Social Change
Understanding Common Terminology In the realm of utilizing networks as an organizing model for social change, clarity is paramount. That’s why we’re delving into the meanings behind some of our most common network terminology. Establishing a shared vocabulary among partners is not just about communication; it’s about laying the groundwork for effective collaboration. Terms like…
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A Signal to Redefine Our Worldview
Navigating the Road to Universal Transformation Let’s embark on a journey to understand the fabric of human perceptions and decisions. Mental models are the roadmaps of our thoughts that guide our understanding of how the world operates. They are concepts, frameworks, and worldviews that we carry within us as reference points, driving our perception and…
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Emulating Nature in Social Change
Social Networks Work Best in Harmony In weaving a cohesive social network, collaborative, or group of individuals dedicated to making change in social systems, much can be learned from Mother Nature. The perfect system already exists, and flourishes through interconnection and collaboration. Within any ecosystem, from the fauna and flora we can see to the…
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