Ingham Community Voices has teamed up with nearby Clinton and Eaton counties to create a tri-county entity charged with the task of identifying community-based problems and finding solutions. The result is a proposed Consortium that will focus on strengthening communities and enacting positive change in the lives and neighborhoods of participating counties.

The "Power of We" Consortium is growing out of an effort to pull together community-based agencies and organizations as a means of fostering investment in the process of change.  The Ingham County Health Department, Ingham Community Voices, the Capital Area United Way and various other local organizations put together a 72-page publication called "The Power of We: Strengthing Community Connections for Action". The document looks at several different factors impacting the well-being of the Capital Area Community, such as intellectual and social development, the economy, health, safety, the environment and community life.  During that process and through the sharing of ideas, those involved discovered they could empower themselves, and with community involvement, begin designing solutions for many of the complex problems facing those living in Ingham, Clinton and Eaton Counties. The community is now successfully utilizing some of those solutions. As a result of the study and the bonding that took place during the compilation of the data, the decison was made to go a step further and create the "Power of We" Consortium as a means of connecting resources and practitioners and expanding the work being done to further the efforts and problem-solving successes the tri-county area is now realizing. 

The Consortium comprises regional partners, as well as state, national or federal entities, who understand that the key to implementing successful change throughout the community is rooted in mutual trust, civic involvement and connection. The long-range goal is for the Consortium to refine, document and weave the practice of participatory change throughout the entire Capital Area during the next five years.  To do this they will use five specific methods that already been successful in the Lansing, Michigan area:

• Engaging Community Members to act, instead of just asking for their input
• Facilitating Dialogue and Creating Connections to broaden the scope of ideas and create equality in a non-judgemental environment that is conducive for listening and breakthroughs
• Identifying and Supporting Civic Leadership to bring together community leaders, policymakers and resource holders
• Using All the Assets of the Community for Change to encourage the community to utilize the resources of institutions and organizations, and encourage institutions and organizations to utilize the resources of the community
• Sharing and Using Data and Information to Support and Monitor Progress to create an 'inclusive' atmosphere by making sure the community has access to data and results from the Consortium's work, as well as using the data and indicators to monitor change and progress

To learn more about the Consortium, or how to become a member, or to get details about the success stories, visit www.PowerofWe.org.