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Reflections of Capacity Building

Insights

June 2008

Reflections of Capacity Building and Impact

By: Sonia Plata, New Detroit

Keys to Success: Accountability, Sustainability and Impact are this year’s themes for the 10^th Anniversary of the Annual Alliance for Nonprofit Management Conference. As we celebrate this anniversary and conference, I am reflective about one of those keys to success: Impact. While thinking about my own journey as a “capacity builder”, I ponder some poignant questions. How have I made a difference? How do I continue to measure up? What motivates me to challenge and rise to the occasion? While not all inclusive, these thoughts cross my mind when considering our opportunities to affect change.

I know that impact isn’t always immediate in nature, yet it sets a solid foundation. As such, Impact is a value-laden term. One definition in Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “a forceful contact, collision or onset.” This definition would not be my first thought or how I would describe the results of capacity building. However, our impact can be described in the following ways: assisting emerging organizations with obtaining their 501(c)3 status, increasing board membership, completing a strategic plan, and obtaining technology. Additionally, seeing an organization increase and expand their services as a culmination of close-knit side-by-side collaboration is a satisfying feeling.

Since our founding 41 years ago, New Detroit has been assisting smaller nonprofit organizations reach their highest potential as they work to fulfill their own declared missions. New Detroit recognizes that the need for community and faith-based organizations is especially great in communities impacted by the effects of longstanding racism and inequality. It is our goal to support organizations to close the gap of social and economic disparities that can be measured by race.

Ultimately, we strive for our impact to have scope beyond our target organizations. At New Detroit, we view our capacity building work as a stepping stone to greater racial harmony in our city, state and ultimately, the nation. While it may seem like a lofty goal, I believe it’s important to set high expectations. As it is often said, you never fail until you stop trying. After all, it’s about making an impression that will last beyond its current objective.

New Detroit was formed as a private, non-profit, tax-exempt organization in response to civil disorder in 1967 that uncovered a host of entrenched social and community ills. At the request of then Michigan Governor George Romney and Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, business executive Joseph L. Hudson, Jr. convened a unique coalition—the nation's first—to identify and address these problems in a bold and comprehensive way. New Detroit is the only organization devoted exclusively to race and race relations in America’s most racially polarized region. Our mission is: to work as the coalition of Detroit area leadership addressing the issue of race relations by positively impacting issues and policies that ensure economic and social equity. Our work focuses on economic equity, education, youth development, cross-cultural relationship building, and community capacity building. New Detroit has been a unique and valuable coalition of 100 leaders of Detroit's business, civic, grassroots, and religious communities. They have come together to plan cooperative strategies and to demonstrate their commitment to the city and its environs.

New Detroit serves to channel the actions of individuals and institutions by its multi-focus as advocate, catalyst, convener, facilitator, intermediary and partner. By building coalitions and leading by example, New Detroit has demonstrated new ways for solving specific community problems. In the metro Detroit area, we are known as the “go-to” organization for advocacy with our demonstrated ability to bring diverse groups together. We intervene to combat intolerance in potentially explosive situations where race is a key factor.