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It’s become increasingly clear that large scale social change efforts need to directly tackle structural racial inequality in order to be truly impactful and effective. For this reason, racial equity has become a central focus of the work at Living Cities, especially within its collective impact portfolio which focuses on changing the systems in cities that consistently produce poor outcomes for many city residents.

No organization (or issue) is an island, and central to collective impact is the recognition that achieving real impact means changing complex and dynamic systems. Yet, too much work happens in isolation. While funders might like to see more collaboration among their grantees, the reality is that too many nonprofits lack the opportunity and resources to engage in collective work. In the process of securing sufficient funding, mapping out sustainability plans, cultivating a “brand” and seeking recognition, the necessary work of collaboration often goes to the wayside.

While many acknowledge that collective impact isn’t a panacea to addressing every social problem, it’s often difficult to understand how to predict the situations in which collective impact would be most feasible, and thereby successful.

There has been increasing buzz about “equity” and “racial equity” in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and among cross-sector collective impact efforts. This is a good thing and our nation’s persistent and rising racial and economic disparities demand it. Many groups are applying an “equity lens” to look outward at social problems and solutions, disaggregating data and seeking to differentiate opportunities and services to reduce disparities. But our organizations and collective efforts must begin by looking inward, using an “equity mirror” to examine our own composition, culture, and policies that reinforce and perpetuate societal disparities. To do equity, we must also be equity.

It can be a painful experience to hear that someone isn’t happy with our work. Many of us working in non-profits, government, or in collective impact efforts do this work because we want to see positive changes in our communities and when someone questions our intention or work it can feel like a blow to the work and the cause. But it is important to put on our wading boots and jump into the conversation.

In the past few months, I have heard many practitioners in the social sector discussing how continuous learning is integral for successful collective impact (CI) efforts. Although its importance is understood, practitioners say they are struggling with how to implement continuous learning processes effectively.

To effectively create collective impact in local communities, you need to pay attention to three things: a focus on context, developing many cross-sector partnerships, and systems change.

Funders often wear many hats in collective impact efforts, from convening partners to funding the infrastructure needed to guide cross-sector partnerships. One role that funders might also find themselves playing – either intentionally or sometimes by default – is that of backbone support for a collective impact effort.

Vancouver was voted one of the most livable cities in the world. This remarkable and most beautiful city is home to the 2015 Collective Impact Summit. The summit is a five day experience with inspiring speakers, a workshop faculty of top experts in collective impact and an urban retreat based in a great hotel in the heart of Richmond’s vibrant Chinatown district. Beyond extensive learning and professional networking opportunities this event even features downtime and social events with everything from daily yoga to a lively party on the last night.

Campbell Soup Company is implementing a 10-year, $10 million initiative to significantly reduce childhood obesity and hunger in the city of Camden, NJ, through its Campbell Healthy Communities program. (Video profile) Building on its work in Camden, Campbell Soup Company is also expanding the Healthy Communities program to other cities such as Norwalk, CT, Napoleon, OH, and Everett, WA, where the company has a business presence.