Next Up: Radical Collaboration 

I was driving to Denver recently to meet with Habitat for Humanity Colorado, an organization that supports the 23 Habitat affiliates building across the state. I am proud to serve on their Board of Directors. I love the quiet time in my car when I can listen to what I want — and coincidentally it was about housing. (Love the men in my life but not talking football for three hours is a delight!) I stumbled upon this podcast from Colorado Public Radio. t struck a note with me and helped me feel more optimistic about the next 3-1/2 years. 

Over the next 3+ years, the federal budget will impact all of us. I don’t think a day goes by where stakeholders who care so much about Habitat, affordable homeownership and this community, ask me how this administration’s policy and the recently passed budget bill will impact Habitat Vail Valley and Eagle County overall.  

There’s no doubt that the future is going to be challenging, but I don’t think it’s time for us to despair. We can’t live in a bubble, though. This recent budget year, Habitat planned on not having as much federal grant funding as in the past. We’ve worked hard for diverse funding sources and have committed partners and supporters. We have a contingency plan. And part of this plan is, to steal the phrase from CPR, “radical collaboration.” 

This is a time for radical collaboration and hope. We received the once-in-a-generation funding from the federal government from Covid relief and invested that $7M into affordable homeownership. But we know that’s from a different era. We are nimble, astute, collaborative and ready to move forward. 

This is a moment when leadership matters and it’s incumbent on all of us to support their work with solutions-based thinking.  I have confidence in our local leaders but am also committed to continuing to show up, to help them, to participate in public forums and share stories about what is happening on the ground, in our communities.  

With the support from our community — state, county, local and all the area nonprofits — we will keep building. However, we need to be aware of the impact of funding cuts on safety net social program and be solutions oriented and willing to collaborate in new and different ways.  

There’s going to be a cascading effect from the cuts to those negatively impacted by the reduction in social safety nets. First the funding requests will go to the state, then to the counties, the need will funnel down to municipalities, then to nonprofits. The solution to fill the needs created by funding shortfalls is radical collaboration — to help lift up so many in our community. 

Our leaders will need to step up and say no to the scarcity mentality while fostering an environment of radical collaboration to meet the needs of community. How do we all play our parts, work together to create abundance and lives that are bigger than the sum of all parts? 

I believe the answer is radical collaboration: being open to partnerships and seeking out new, different, innovative collaborations. It means working with other government entities, nonprofits and community leaders and members. It means thinking creatively, working together across disciplines and being part of a solution. 

Now is the time to create opportunities, for new leaders to rise up, for new ideas to come to fruition. We can’t give up, give in and feel defeated. Together, we can create the space for change with new voices. It’s time for us to listen — to really hear what people need and how we can pool our collective talent, our resources and think differently for new solutions. Change isn’t easy but oftentimes great things can come from great stressors.  

I challenge all of us to think radically, to reach out and collaborate in new and innovative ways. Our community is counting on us and I know we can deliver.  

Elyse Howard is the vice president of community affairs & philanthropy. She works with community members and local leaders to be part of the change. If you want to join her in radical collaboration, reach out.