Facilitated Community Dialogues Initiative (FCDI)
The Facilitated Community Dialogues Initiative (FCDI) is a project of the Tides Center designed to strengthen understandings about community leadership through shared learning experiences between foundations funding public health and education and community leaders. FCDI is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
In order to generate new understandings of community leadership in context, FCDI supports a growing network of Learning Initiative Partners (LIPs)- community-based organizations engaged in work at local levels through 1) community engagement training and 2) capacity building.
Community Engagement Training
FCDI’s positions LIPs to drive the process of developing new understandings of community leadership through community engagement trainings focusing on the Structured Dialogue Method (SDM). These trainings prepare and enable LIPs to facilitate a series of local community dialogues that serve as learning experiences to engage people, organizations and networks who are catalyzing change.
Capacity Building
FCDI understands that organizations need resources. One of the major obstacles to identifying and securing funding and resources is limited capacity. FCDI supports capacity building primarily by strategically connecting local organizations with foundation fellows engaged in work aligned with their organizational missions, visions, and values. Though this organizational matchmaking, LIPs learn to leverage the contributions, networks, and energy of influential individuals committed to change.
SDM is an innovative, powerful, communications platform designed to enhance critical thinking skills in a variety of community and educational contexts.
What is a LIP?
LIP is an acronym for Learning Initiative Partner. LIPs are local community-based organizations working to solve problems in the areas of public health and education. LIPs come from a variety of backgrounds and applied disciplines, including: food safety and sustainability, faith-based ministry, youth development, crisis support, housing, violence prevention, and workforce development.
Regina Jackson
President and CEO, East Oakland Youth Development Center,
Oakland, CA
Learning Initiative Partner— Cohort 1
K. Bain
Co-founder of the NYC crisis management system
696 Build Queensbridge
New York, NY
Learning Initiative Partner— Cohort 1
William P. Jackson, PhD
Chief Dreamer, Village of Wisdom
Durham, NC
Learning Initiative Partner— Cohort 1
Kamal Bell
Founder, Sankofa Farms
Efland, NC
Learning Initiative Partner— Cohort 1
Cashawn Myers
Executive Director, HABESHA
Atlanta, GA │Accra, Ghana
Learning Initiative Partner— Cohort 1
Rev. Benito (Ben) Aguilera III
Lead Pastor, Holland Boulevard Church
Holland, MI
Learning Initiative Partner— Cohort 1
Michael Stark
Co-Founder, Chicago Leadership Alliance
Chicago, IL
Learning Initiative Partner— Cohort 1