Weekly Briefing, July 25 – 29

blogimage_dailybriefingEvery week, there are new intersector collaborations surfacing across the United States and new, fascinating research and commentary that provides insight into the intersector — the space where collaboration among government, business, and non-profit sectors enables leaders to share expertise, resources, and authority to address society’s most pressing problems. To keep our readers, practitioners and researchers alike, in the know, we compile a weekly briefing that captures these insights, and we publish it here, on our blog, every Friday. If you like this briefing, you should sign up for our newsletter for more in depth coverage of the intersector.

Public-private partnerships improve veterans’ access to care
This piece from The Hill looks at a topic that we noted in a previous Weekly Briefing — public-private partnerships for veterans services. “Some would like to end the new public-private partnership and just return to the old ways of doing things at VA,” the author says. “Others would like to totally privatize VA. Both miss the mark.”

Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative wins AIA/HUD Award
A tri-sector housing project in Chicago was announced as the winner of an AIA/HUD Secretary Award in the category of “Creating Community Connection.” The Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative involves cross-sector partners including the Rebuild Foundation, the Chicago Housing Authority, Brinshore Development, and Landon Bone Baker Architects.

Mayors tout importance of infrastructure investment at DNC
In its coverage of event on infrastructure hosted in Philadelphia by the National League of Cities and Build America Mutual held in conjunction with the DNC, Route Fifty discussed mayors’ remarks on the importance of P3s. “Regardless of how conversations about infrastructure investment are playing out at the federal level, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed believes city leaders should be working to forge new partnerships with the private sector to secure funding for projects.”

A conversation with mayors on making innovation stick
And more on mayors and partnerships from Governing, in this Q&A on innovation with mayors from Philadelphia, Louisville, and Nashville. “Also key to achieving sustainable innovation in cities is forming and fostering partnerships across departments and sectors,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “By encouraging experimentation, risk-taking and cross-sector collaboration, the City Accelerator is helping cities try new approaches and embed innovations that can solve difficult urban challenges.”

The basic reason why there just isn’t enough decent housing for the poor
This piece in the Washington Post discusses affordable housing and the fundamental reason why there won’t be enough built for low-income individuals and families if the system continues as is, citing research and insights from Urban Institute’s Erika Poethig: “Building affordable housing is truly a public-private partnership,” Poethig says, “and the private only takes you so far.”

Mayor De Blasio, Mayor’s Fund To Advance NYC, U.S. Soccer Foundation, New York City Football Club, and Adidas launch NYC Soccer Initiative
This new tri-sector initiative in New York City aims to build and maintain 50 soccer fields in underserved neighborhoods across the five boroughs over the next five years. “By pooling public and private resources and expertise to implement creative solutions that address our toughest challenges, the New York City Soccer Initiative is improving the lives of New Yorkers,” said Gabrielle Fialkoff, Senior Advisor to the Mayor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Partnerships.