Centre for Social Innovation - Where Change Happens!

For anyone that knows me, you will know that I am fascinated by both the power of social entrepreneurship and the power of collaboration. In effect, the Centre for Social Innovation is the embodiment of both of these.

But before we created the Centre, I was busily working with some of the most important people in Canada on toxics and children's health. A group of us created the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment (CPCHE) back in 2000.  It was such an honour and a delight to work with this amazing group of people and organizations.

CPCHE is composed of eleven organizations that were actually competitors in the beginning and through some amazing collaboration, we turned that competition into a coalition of groups able to influence the federal chemicals management plan, get $25 million allocated to environmental health, get industry to help us to advocate for more children specific research and have the Minister of Health, Tony Clement, use the words "precautionary principle" and "ban" in the same sentence in the April 2008 banning of Bisphenol A in baby bottles. 

Clearly I am proud of the work of the CPCHE partners and the many others that were influential in moving this policy and behaviour change forward. But as much as the outcomes are amazing, the model for collaboration that we co-developed has some equally impressive outcomes. 

Collaboration is rarely easy and making them really come to life and actually deliver on the social outcomes is even harder.  When we developed the Constellation Governance model, we knew what we didn't like about previous partnerships but could we develop something new and innovative, something which harnessed the power of energy and honoured the partners, while not creating a new competitor to the scene.

The paper which I have attached to this posting is a 6 page description of the Constellation governance model and how it was actualized through CPCHE. Mark Surman, my co-author (and husband), and I hope that if you read and enjoy it that you will share your thoughts and questions about it with us. 

The constellation governance model is now being used with at least 2 other groups - the Ontario Nonprofit Network and Frontline Partners with Youth Network. Both groups are evolving the model in their own ways... stories that I will share if there is interest.

Enjoy the read! Let me know what you think.

Tonya