2024 CED Network Intensive at OneAccord Recap
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The 2024 CED Network intensive at OneAccord was the most highly-attended yet, with 61 attendees from 30 organizations discussing the theme, “Engaging holistic economic development together.”
Gillian Foster Wilkinson, strategic alliances director from HOPE International and chair of the CED Network, opened the intensive by defining “holistic economic development” as the work of organizations who
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Anne Figge, innovation and curriculum technical lead at Five Talents, led an inductive Bible study on 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, “What, after all, is Apollos?'. The passage invited reflection on how co-laboring in God’s field imbues importance to each of the individual and organization roles we hold. By God’s design, we are reliant on both God and one another in bringing the field from seed to harvest.
Dr. Casey Duthiers and Rachel Cheng from the Resilient Communities Center then spoke to the inherent complexity of holistic economic development. As organizations respond to the challenges they are called to address, it is common to realize the issue is more complex than originally understood. These moments are opportunities to consider how we may adapt to offer more effective holistic programming. Dr. Duthiers shared her research on the importance of stakeholder engagement as organizations make changes to become more holistic in their work.
In the third session, Abigail Sebesta, vice president of products and strategic initiatives at the Chalmers Center, facilitated a panel with real-life examples of how organizations navigate shifts, expansions, and partnerships. Katie Toop, senior director of transformational development at World Concern, Daniel Bravo Camargo, executive director of Fundacion Doulos, and Cheryl Cuthbertson, strategic alliances senior advisor at Compassion International, each shared their experiences.
In the final session. Dr. Abram Bicksler and Robert Sanou from ECHO discussed holistic frameworks driving agriculture programming in a global context and how agriculture integrates with interventions like savings, financial services, and other CED-related activities. Sanou shared specific interventions related to Foundations for Farming’s Farming God’s Way curriculum.
Memorable comments included:
To see the agenda and more details about this event, visit the event page here.
Dr. Casey Duthiers and Rachel Cheng from the Resilient Communities Center then spoke to the inherent complexity of holistic economic development. As organizations respond to the challenges they are called to address, it is common to realize the issue is more complex than originally understood. These moments are opportunities to consider how we may adapt to offer more effective holistic programming. Dr. Duthiers shared her research on the importance of stakeholder engagement as organizations make changes to become more holistic in their work.
In the third session, Abigail Sebesta, vice president of products and strategic initiatives at the Chalmers Center, facilitated a panel with real-life examples of how organizations navigate shifts, expansions, and partnerships. Katie Toop, senior director of transformational development at World Concern, Daniel Bravo Camargo, executive director of Fundacion Doulos, and Cheryl Cuthbertson, strategic alliances senior advisor at Compassion International, each shared their experiences.
In the final session. Dr. Abram Bicksler and Robert Sanou from ECHO discussed holistic frameworks driving agriculture programming in a global context and how agriculture integrates with interventions like savings, financial services, and other CED-related activities. Sanou shared specific interventions related to Foundations for Farming’s Farming God’s Way curriculum.
Memorable comments included:
- "We think we are the vine, but we are really the branches." - Devotions group reflection
- "Life is complicated. People are complicated. Partnership is complicated. And it's important enough, that we do it anyway! "- Casey Duthiers, Resilient Communities Center
- "Poverty is multidimensional, so the solution must be multidimensional, too. Poverty doesn’t come from just one place." - Cheryl Cuthbertson
- "When you are in uncharted territory, it's hard to measure what you're doing. Trying to innovate or provide something transformational but report on it using the standard report can feel like putting new wine in old skins." - Daniel Bravo Camargo
- "Change can feel threatening because it feels like change is a criticism that you weren’t doing the right thing. Managing change is not just about getting people on the same page but getting people to see themselves on the page." - Katie Toop
- "Sometimes we are looking for a big coalition or a critical mass in partnership. We have learned that being small but united actually leads to more organic and sustainable growth." - Daniel Bravo Camargo
- "Where might God be calling you to take the next step in being more holistic?" - Gillian Foster Wilkinson
To see the agenda and more details about this event, visit the event page here.