Our twenty-member Board of Directors is recruited to bring many lived experiences to enrich our thinking and approaches to challenging economic and social issues. Each board member is connected to many networks that reach diverse groups and communities. These networks are sources of insights and fresh ideas for potentially far-reaching policies and initiatives
Institutional flexibility and depth. The Institute is designed as a collaborative with a small staff, low overhead, and a broad network of partners. The Institute organizes and manages teams, including the Board, Institute Fellows, and experts from various networks to achieve the goals of large initiatives and individual projects. Our collaborative structure enables us to “punch above our weight,” allowing us to take on large, complex projects.
The direction of our work is from the grassroots up rather than from the top down. It is often the case that the voices of those who are least powerful go unheard when policies are formed at the top of government and business. Our view is that robust and broadly beneficial solutions emerge when we begin at the ground level with the stories, experiences, and ideas of those who know first-hand the consequences of policies and programs.