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Why Well-Being for Each of Us is Well-Being for All of Us

By Risa Wilkerson on April 13th, 2017

In an atmosphere of protecting our “benefits,” we act in ways that are self-serving on the surface, yet don’t result in the long-term benefits that we think they do. Consider […]

Community Progress Lies Beyond Your Comfort Zone

By Risa Wilkerson on February 1st, 2017

As I reflect on 2016 (which all of a sudden seems like another lifetime ago) and the lessons it offered about how polarized and allegedly divided our country is, I’m […]

An Interview with ALBD Board Chair, Niiobli Armah

By Risa Wilkerson on January 13th, 2017

Niiobli Armah IV is founder of We-Collab, a social change organization that works across public and private sectors to accelerate innovation in local communities. He works at Bloomberg Associates, an […]

United We Thrive, Divided We Fail

By Risa Wilkerson on December 16th, 2016

In early 2016, I shared my hope that in the new year we’d hear stories about deeper social connectedness that would outshine the media narratives in 2015 centering on loss, […]

Improve Your Message By Asking Questions—Especially These Questions

By Risa Wilkerson on August 24th, 2016

Healthy community leaders are constantly aiming to create demand and support for specific changes, and it can be tempting to use traditional health messaging, with its jargon and dense data […]

One Foundation’s Culture of Learning Enriches a Region

By Risa Wilkerson on July 27th, 2016

I was recently at a conference with a nationally-recognizable keynote speaker who I had heard a few times over the past few years. I looked forward to hearing new stories, […]

Check Your Leadership Lens Before Embarking on Collective Impact

By Risa Wilkerson on June 15th, 2016

“We think we want to do Collective Impact. How do we get started?” When asked this question by a staff of a nonprofit organization striving to improve the health of […]

Authentic Community Engagement Requires Vulnerability

By Risa Wilkerson on May 18th, 2016

When was the last time you were disarmed and uncomfortable in a professional setting, and stayed in that place longer than usual for the greater good? In order to create […]

At the Intersection of Human Connection and Equity

By Risa Wilkerson on April 13th, 2016

At the fifth Safe Routes to School National Conference, the theme was Intersections: Where Transportation and Health Meet. The sessions were enlightening, and the intersection theme went even deeper. Throughout […]

A Fresh Model for Community-Driven Change

By Risa Wilkerson on March 23rd, 2016

Active Living By Design is about to launch a fresh model for community-driven change to reflect the evolution of our field’s growth. It reminds me of how far we’ve come. […]