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The Roundtable has a regional focus throughout Greater Washington.
Throughout the years the Roundtable has launched many initiatives, working with partners to make the nonprofit sector stronger.
NEW WAYS OF WORKING TOGETHER
Following the success of Phase I of the New Ways of Working Together series (a five-part series about mergers, shared back office administration, and other partnerships between nonprofit organizations, which ran from January 2009 to March 2009), we launched Phase II to provide nonprofit leaders of organizations with similar missions and geographic outreach with a series of forums to discuss options for collaboration, partnerships and mergers, and to develop creative ways to offer essential services during the economic downturn. In September 2009, we convened leaders of organizations that address issues affecting women. About a dozen executive directors and board members were in attendance, including MARPAT grantees - DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and WEAVE. In January 2010, we partnered with the Human Services Coalition of Prince George’s County and the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates to convene leaders of Prince George’s county nonprofits and youth serving organizations for two separate meetings.
The forums provided an opportunity for nonprofit leaders to learn effective ways to reduce redundancy, redesign existing resources, and build consistent capacity. As part of each meeting, participants developed a list of their organizational assets available to share as well as their needs for other resources. Some examples: Suited for Change had surplus clothing donations, YWCA had office space to rent, and Ayuda had extra accounting capacity & willing to share staff. Pending funding, we will resume the activities of the New Ways of Working Together series in 2012.
WASHINGTON REGIONAL EQUITY NETWORK
Through 2008, the Roundtable worked in partnership with the Washington Regional Equity Network. Don Edwards of Justice & Sustainability Associates spearheaded WREN which included nearly 100 primarily community-based service providers and advocacy organizations in Greater Washington. With the goal of creating greater economic and social equity across the region, WREN brought together affordable housing, community development, environmental, and other advocates to address regional growth, sprawl, displacement and the cost of living. WREN was part of the Washington 2050 Compact, an initiative of the Council of Governments.
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