Systems Forum

"A system cannot fail those it was never built to protect"
— Vann Newkirk

Systems Forum

The Systems Forum is a multi-sector, common ground forum devoted to equitable systems change and racial equity. As a collectively owned entity backboned by SIE, it serves as collaborative infrastructure for learning and action that advances equity-based systemic transformation.

New Approach

Traditional models of organizations working independently and funded to achieve their own goals are too fragmented to transform systems. Systemic problems require systemic solutions, collectively pursued with systems approaches, tools, methods and sufficient resources.

Purpose

To transform systems toward equity so that all people in our society thrive. The Forum’s work is especially focused on racial equity and those who have been most marginalized. The goal of the Forum is to establish equitable systems change as a standard approach to addressing complex social problems.

The Importance of Collaborative Infrastructure

The social sector is not structured to work across issues and sectors, nor is it yet adept at applying systems thinking and approaches. Furthermore, the shift toward equity is often not well understood and has not been internalized as the norm across institutions and society. Robust, connecting, adaptive infrastructure will allow us to build these capacities, resources, knowledge, and practices at scale and at a more accelerated pace. Without such infrastructure, the work occurs piecemeal and does not attain enough critical mass to overcome systems resistance.

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Forum Values

Equity

We believe all people should have an equal opportunity to thrive in life

Racial Equity

We are committed to dismantling systemic and structural racism, which is a necessary precondition for tackling complex problems from climate to health to poverty

Democratizing Power

We believe power in society should be broadly shared. Low income people and people of color in particular should be full partners in planning and implementing societal change efforts.

Community-Led

We believe that work in communities should be informed and led by the communities themselves.

Transformation

Our goal is transformative change. While progress at times may come in small steps, our goal is to break through incrementalism to create an equitable society where all people thrive.

Collaboration

We believe in the power of diverse, multi-sector, collaborative networks to come together based on a shared purpose and values to drive transformative change.

Activities

The Forum’s aim is to advance work in the field of systems change by providing a “big tent” for diverse stakeholders to accelerate systems change and capture synergies across complementary efforts

Action Platforms

Action Platforms provide funding and other resources to support systems change efforts in various issues and locations.

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Practice Groups

To support practice improvement, the Forum will help members form Practice Groups comprised of thought leaders, practitioners, funders and community leaders.

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Advocacy and Communications

Through advocacy, it is possible to shift mindsets and policies across sectors and society toward equity and systems approaches.

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Knowledge Sharing and Learning

Building and sharing knowledge will help systems initiatives be more effective and inform funders’ support of equitable systems change.

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