A PLACE-BASED APPROACH

Raising Places works in local communities around the country. Focusing on a small geographic area ensures that residents, including children and other stakeholders, have ample opportunities to participate in the decisions that shape their environments.

Up to six communities will be selected to engage in the Raising Places process. They will use human-centered design to collaboratively create and pilot new ideas. Our intention is to work with a diverse cohort of communities, so that we may learn about the ways that different places, and different kinds of places, become more child-centered.

Raising Places communities will be announced in early September!

“We’re in this emerging age of collaboration, and cross-sector partnership. It is an important, difficult and unusual practice for many. At the end of the day, even to apply to Raising Places says something about the applicants’ mindset and courage.”

CAM COLLYER, EVERGREEN
RAISING PLACES ADVISOR

COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS

The structure of each Raising Places community includes both a convening organization and a group of local leaders, called the design team. In selecting communities for Raising Places, we looked for the following characteristics:

Defined Geography

A clearly-defined community area that is small enough to provide focus, yet large enough to involve a wide range of stakeholders

Local Momentum

Recent or ongoing initiatives toward childhood wellness at both community
and county/state levels

An Asset Orientation

Teams are able to identify not only barriers to children thriving, but also unique local assets that may be leveraged

Convener Credibility

The convening organization has deep ties to the community, including residents, as well as significant experience engaging in cross-sector collaboration

Diverse Perspectives

The cross-sector design team comes from a variety of professional roles focused on both “better childhoods” and “better communities”

Commitment to Learning

Team members are open to exploring new ways to solve old problems, and they bring both expertise and curiosity to the table

We believe that local action has the power to make lasting change.

A PLACE-BASED APPROACH

COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS

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