Whole Family Systems (WFS) Cohort 2

Whole Family Systems (WFS) Initiative is a 5-year partnership between eight organizations, tribal nations, nonprofits, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Future Services Institute (FSI). Intended to lift up experiences and knowledge of communities and families, and create solutions that reduce, and ultimately remove, systemic barriers.

Eight sites in partnership: CLUES, OOG Grandmother's House, Minneapolis American Indian Center, Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association, Northpoint, Northwest Indian Community Development, People Serving People, and City of St Paul.

Minnesota Department Of Transportation Leadership Equity Training

Working in partnership with the University of Minnesota, Department of Transportation, Nelson Nygaard and community partners to design a two day equity training series for MnDOT leadership. This interactive training goal was to advance transportation equity across everyday work while strengthening connections to communities to make meaningful change. Content included a historical grounding in present day disparities including the MN Paradox as well as a community lead workshop which held crucial analysis around multi layered and intersectional challenges .

Grandmother’s House Language Nest

Supported systemic learnings from relational co creation, indigenous practices, and generational assessment. Grandma's House, a cooperative center that serves pregnant women and children up to age 5, gathers Ojibwe-speaking elders from other tribes in Minnesota and Canada to work with Anishinaabe kids and their parents. A traditional intergenerational aspect, where elders play a major role in educating parents and their young children in a home-like setting, where no English is spoken.

Design Lab Child Care Assistance

In partnership with FSI, The Minnesota Department of Human Services (MN-DHS) Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) child care providers, and caregivers, explored “How might we ensure the stability of care when families are experiencing housing instability?” Conducted interviews, a deep dive into existing research, and held co-creation design labs.

https://www.ashleybennett.me/ccapdesignlab

Human Services Leadership Graduate Certificate

Adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs within the Human Services Leadership Graduate certificate. A year-long educational journey grounded in human services redesign theory and practice as well as a workshop to implement and evaluate a service level redesign applying engagement, analysis and evaluation techniques.The certificate program was an entry point for the Masters of Public Affairs degree.

Leading Courageously in the Public Sector Training

Training designed for learning simple yet powerful practices that enable authentic engagement that builds community, activates shared intelligence, and motivates leadership for change. Enhancing skills and abilities to work with complexity, uncertainty and change. Developing leadership confidence for facing challenges that do not have simple solutions, learning practices to engage skillfully with fear, conflict and paralysis patterns, using wise process planning architectures for small and large scale initiatives, and hosting strategic conversations.

https://www.facebook.com/futureservicesinstitute/

Community Voices in Child Support

Lead a human service redesign effort including research, design, facilitation, and developmental evaluation. Identified improvements in policy, practice, and legislation which impacted data collection, communication and father focused initiative. Presented this work at the National Child Support Conference. https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/208296

https://prezi.com/v/unzov1rsrt5x/child-support-and-community-voices-for-2-gen-workshop/?preview=1

Fathers Initiative

As part of the WFS 2 Gen efforts a pilot partnership was formed across child support, child care assistance, Office of Economic Opportunity, Child safety and permanency and FSI. In this role I was responsible for design, strategic planning, evaluation, and engagement to identify opportunities for collaboration, build shared work models, and propose actionable innovation work to strengthen program services for fathers from marginalized communities. This process engaged partners in relationship building, critical analysis, and exploration of multiple applied lenses in program innovation.

https://prezi.com/v/view/oqlKPnyFnCGhsfWgNGsB/

Mainstream Environmental Project

In partnership with Equity Strategies and multiple environmental organizations explored youth pathways project internship samples, conducted a literature review,informational interviews, and recommendations for future development. Literature Review was shared as part of the groups collaborative story sharing event at the 2023 Minnesota Council of NonProfit Leadership conference.

https://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/docs/default-source/events/23-lc/collaborative-pathways-2.pdf?sfvrsn=770c3472_2

Equity Works Leadership Institute

Leadership cohort model rooted in values of equity, systems change, and a human-centered design approach. The process of improving systems and outcomes requires understanding the complexities of identity, work culture, and historical inequities as we navigate the concept of leadership. This model integrated development across individual, interpersonal and institutional change.

http://futureservicesinstitute.org/equity-works-leadership-institute-macssa