Episode Transcript
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Speaker 2 (00:28):
Today you're listening to the Good Morning Gwinette Show, produced
by Audrey Belcarni. Catch a new episode Monday through Friday
at ten am. Now on to the show.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Welcome back to the deep Dive. We're here to take
those big, complex topics and well give you the essential
understanding you need. Have you ever stopped to wonder how
a community really tackles its biggest challenges, you know, the
deep rooted stuff. How do you actually move past just
individual efforts to create real lasting change, system wide change. Well,
(01:02):
today we're diving deep into the Gwinnett Coalition. They're this
powerhouse nonprofit that's been doing exactly that for wow over
three decades. Now our mission give you a shortcut basically
to understanding what makes their collaborative model just so effective.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Yeah, and it's important to remember this isn't just about
one group success story. What we're really looking at here
is kind of a blueprint for collective impact strategies that
honestly could be applied in lots of places facing similar issues.
We've pulled our insights for this from excerpts from Gwinnet
Coalition three decades of community leadership. It really shines a
light on their journey and you know, the practical ways they.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Do things exactly. So by the end of our chat
today you'll have some really fascinating insights into how diverse
groups can actually truly unite for a common cause. We'll
dig into the core pillars of community well being they
focus on, and you'll see firsthand how systemic change isn't
just some pie in the sky idea, it's actually happening
being built. Okay, let's unpack this thing. So, starting right
(01:58):
at the beginning, Whinnet Coalition often called a cornerstone nonprofit
in Gwynnett County, but like in real terms, what's been
their fundamental purpose over these thirty plus years, what are
they really about?
Speaker 4 (02:09):
Okay, So, at its heart, the Gwinnett Coalition has this
one driving purpose uniting people and organizations, simple as that sounds,
is huge. They bring together well everyone, local nonprofits, businesses,
government leaders, even just regular residents. And their goal isn't
just fixing surface problems. It's about creating system level solutions.
(02:29):
Think about it like this, Instead of just say setting
up a temporary shoulder, which is needed, sure, a system
level approach looks deeper. It tackles the why, affordable housing,
job training, mental health, access, transportation, all the things that
might lead to homelessness. That's the kind of foundational work
they do, and doing it for over thirty years. That
builds trust. They're seen as a trusted leader, really driving collaboration,
(02:52):
and this is key measurable impact. The source we look
at really highlights three main areas, health equity, mental and
behavioral health, and nonprofit capacity Building's.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, that's a really broad scope, but trying to fix
those big tangled issues that must come with challenges. Right,
collaboration sounds great on paper, but we know it can
be incredibly messy in reality. What's maybe one big hurdle
they've had to figure out to actually move the needle
beyond just getting people in a room. What's their unique
approach here?
Speaker 4 (03:21):
Oh, you're absolutely right. Collaboration is tough. It's much harder
to do than to talk about. One of their secret
sauce ingredients, you could say, is how they build trust.
They use things like shared measurement and getting low stakes wins. Okay,
agine you bring together school district, a hospital, a local charity.
They all have their own missions right, their own ways
(03:42):
of measuring success. A huge hurdle is getting them to
agree not just on the goal, but on how they'll
track progress together. So the coalition helps with that. They
often start with smaller achievable goals quick.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Wins basically, oh okay, low stakes wins exactly.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
That builds confidence, It shows everyone, hey, working together actually works.
Then it's easier to tackle the bigger, more complex system
changes later on. They're constantly bringing these different groups together,
not just for coffee, but to align resources, share data,
figure out unified strategies. And it's not just nonprofits talking
to nonprofits. They actively partner with government, with business leaders.
(04:20):
That amplifies the impact.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Right, gets more buy in, more resources.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Totally. It ensures the solutions have wider reach, maybe more
sustainable funding and the political backing they need. This whole
approach has genuinely changed, as the source says, how local
challenges are addressed and how success is measured in Quinnet.
It creates a united front instead of scattered efforts.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
And that collaborative model obviously got noticed. They recently got
some formal recognition. Didn't they tell us about Nonprofit Day?
Why was August seventeenth a big deal for the coalition?
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Yes, it was a great moment, a really nice public nod.
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners officially recognized August seventeenth
as Nonprofit Day. It was a day to honor the
the frankly tireless work of all nonprofits in the county,
recognizing how vital they are, and for the Quinny Coalition specifically,
it was a chance to highlight the hundreds of lies
(05:11):
they touch every year through their programs, which, like we said,
are all built on those three core pillars. Maybe we
should dig into those pillars a bit more, because that's
where you really see the strategy playing out, how the
collaboration becomes real change.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Y's do that Okay.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
First pillar health equity. Their work here is all about
systematically knocking down barriers to healthcare, making sure every resident,
no matter their income, race, background, can get essential services.
They push preventive care, connect families with doctors, and lead
these big efforts to close health gaps. What's really interesting
is how they tackle the systemic barriers. It's not just
(05:47):
about offering a service one time.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
It's fixing the system itself.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Exactly fixing the access points. For instance, I remember reading
about one family, let's call them the Johnson's. They were
really struggling to manage their child's asthma, just lost in
this maze of clinics and appointments. Because of the coalition
coordinating local clinics and transport options, they got assigned a
community health worker. This person coordinated everything, appointments, even helped
(06:13):
them get help making their home healthier, reducing allergens.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Wow, that's tackling it from multiple angles.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Right, that's a systemic barrier getting properly addressed. Okay. Second
pillar Mental and behavioral health. This is huge, obviously at
often overlooked. The coalition is really committed to expanding access here.
A big part is reducing that stigma, you know, making
it okay to talk about mental.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Health still such a barrier for so many.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Absolutely, so they focus on reducing stigma, raising awareness about
what help is available, and creating clear paths to counseling
and support. They understand that mental wellness is fundamental, it
needs the same priority as physical health. And then the
third pillar nonprofit capacity building. This one's really interesting. The
coalition isn't just providing services directly to people. They're also
(07:00):
a capacity builder for other nonprofits.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
So they're helping the helpers precisely.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Think of a small local charity, maybe they're super passionate,
great idea, but struggling with the admin side fundraising, that
kind of thing. The Gwinny Coalition steps in. They offer
training resources, help them connect with others, things like workshops
on grant writing, managing a board, finding volunteers, the real
nuts and bolts.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
That makes a lot of sense. Strengthening the whole network exactly.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
It strengthens the entire nonprofit ecosystem in Gwinnett. It's a
ripple effect. It helps ensure all these groups serving the
community can be effective and sustainable long term.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Okay, So, pulling back a bit, what does this all
mean for you listening and for the community as a whole.
Beyond the specific programs. What's the bigger picture here, the
broader significance. And you know, while the vision is inspiring,
does this kind of systemic change ever hit major roadblocks?
What do they learn from those moments?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
That's a really important point. Systemic change is almost never
a smooth streight line, is it. The source describes a
coalition as more than a nonprofit. It is a movement
embodying compassion, equity, innovation. You see their impact across the board, schools, neighborhoods, healthcare.
But yeah, roadblocks definitely happen. A common one might be
shifts in say political priorities, or an economic downturn hits funding.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Right, things outside their direct control.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Exactly what the coalition seems to have mastered is how
to pivot, how to adapt. They always come back to
that core idea of collaboration. They found that when one
door closes, their network often helps open another, a new partner,
maybe an innovative workaround. That resilience, that adaptability, it's a
huge part of why they've lasted and succeeded. Ultimately, they
(08:44):
just keep showing that systemic change is possible when the
community comes together and in a place like when it
growing so fast, so diverse, that kind of unified leadership
is just invaluable. Their ability to bring people together around
shared goals. It really has become a model not just
for Gwinnet, but potentially for communities across Georgia and even
further afield. It shows the power, the ripple effect of
(09:05):
sticking with collaborative effort even when it gets tough.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
A model for communities across Georgia and beyond, that's powerful
to really make that concrete. Can you share a few
more specific examples that human side of impact you mentioned?
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Yeah, absolutely, the source share some really moving stories that
make it tangible. So picture a family. Maybe they needs
to struggle just to figure out healthcare, lost in the system,
no clear path. Now, because of partnerships the Coalition helped build,
they get coordinated care for say a chronic condition, their
quality of life just improves dramatically, a direct change, a
(09:39):
direct change. Or think about a student maybe facing serious
mental health struggles, feeling totally alone. Through better access to
school counselors and community resources, things that coalition helped set up,
that student finds support, find stability, the tools to actually thrive.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
That's life changing, it really is.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
And it's not just about direct services to end. Think
about that nonprofit leader we talked about. Maybe they felt
totally swamped before just trying to keep the lights on. Now,
with training, mentorship, resources from the coalition's capacity building, they
could actually grow their organization reach more people, serve the
community better.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Ah.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
So it empowers the whole chain exactly.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
These aren't just one off stories. They show how the
work ripples out, touching individuals, families, whole communities, making the
whole area stronger, healthier.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Looking back at three decades, I mean that's a lot
of success, a lot accomplished. But what about looking forward?
What's their vision now, what challenges are still out there,
and what are they aiming for next in such a
dynamic place.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Yeah, they're definitely not resting on their laurels. They seem
incredibly focused on continuing that mission leading positive systemic change.
They're very aware that issues like health inequities, access to
mental health care, keeping nonprofits sustainable, those are ongoing fights
right now.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Don't just disappear.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
No, they evolved with the community. So their future goals
sound pretty ambitious, pretty strategic. They want to expand partnerships,
not just locally, but looking at national organizations too, bring
in more resources, more expertise. A big focus is using
data better, not just collecting stats, but really analyzing them
to understand needs and react smarter.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Like spotting trends early.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Exactly, maybe mapping health outcomes against other data to see
exactly which areas need the most targeted support. And of
course they plan to keep innovating in that nonprofit capacity
building piece, making sure the whole support system stays strong
and flexible. Their leadership their bored. They seem really committed
to keeping Gwynett ahead of the curve on collaborative problem solving,
(11:42):
always pushing for more impact.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
That Nonprofit Day recognition, you said it felt like both
a celebration and an invitation. So if someone listening is
inspired by this model, how can they actually get involved?
How can they become part of this.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Precisely, it really is an invitation for residents leaders not
just to watch, but to jump in and support the mission.
The source lays out some really practical ways people can
get involved. You could volunteer, you know, are for your time,
your skills to local nonprofits many of them benefit directly
or indirectly from the coalition's work.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Makes sense you.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Could support the Gwinnet Coalition financially of course, donations help
fuel their work, let them expand, and just spreading the
word talking about why health equity matters, why mental health
access is crucial, why nonprofit collaboration is so powerful. Awareness
is huge, simple but effective. Absolutely, and for anyone ready
to take a concrete step, the most direct way is
(12:37):
to visit their website gwinnet Coalition dot org. You can
learn more there, see what events or workshops are coming up,
look for volunteer roles that fit you, or yes, make
a donation. It really does raise that question for everyone listening,
how can you become part of a network like this
people committed to making your community stronger, healthier, more connected.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
Wow. What an insightful deep dive. It really highlights the
power of that sustained, unified effort in driving real community transformation.
The Gwinnet Coalition is such a vivid example.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
It really is. Their legacy, I think is one of hope,
action and just smart collaboration. Nonprofit Day put a spotlight
on them, which is great, but the real celebration is
happening every single day as lives are changed. For over
thirty years now, they've just proven it. When a community
truly comes together with purpose, with a shared vision for
fixing systems, extraordinary things can happen. They really are, you
(13:29):
could say, the heart of Gwinnet's nonprofit community.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
So here's something to think about as we wrap up.
Consider the challenges in your own community. Could a similar
approach bringing different people to the table, focusing relentlessly on
system level solutions. Could that turn those challenges into opportunities,
opportunities for extraordinary, lasting change. What's maybe one small step
you could take, starting today to spark that kind of collaboration.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Right where you are, you've been listening to the Good
Morning Gwinnette's show, produced by Audrey Bell Kearney. Catch a
new episode Monday through Friday at ten am. If you
missed any episode of the show, go to good Morning
Gwinette dot com. Until next time, make it a great day.