Many communities struggle with low education rates and high poverty and crime rates. Disinvestment in these areas impacts efforts for improvement. How can these communities emerge with a brighter future?
As Montclair State University (Montclair) and Transform Consulting Group (TCG) worked to implement the Paterson One Square Mile initiative, it became clear that Paterson, New Jersey needed new investment to lead to transformational changes. Montclair was interested in the anchor collaborative model, and so we worked together to explore how an anchor collaborative would work in Paterson.
An anchor collaborative is a group of anchor institutions – universities, hospitals, government entities, and other key organizations – that combine their human capital and financial resources to elevate their communities. Because anchor institutions are not likely to move to a new location, they are connected to their community and want to see that area flourish.
When anchor institutions band together, these large employers can have the economic impact needed to help disinvested areas where it is difficult for smaller businesses to encourage development.
Anchor institutions with a plan to purchase and hire within a defined geographic area, for example, will provide an investment in the community that can spur new economic growth.
Anchor collaboratives in larger cities are generally supported by educational and medical institutions – or “eds and meds.” These collaboratives campaign members to hire and buy locally, and in some cases implore members to live and engage with the communities they are assembled to serve. Examples of anchor collaboratives include the Newark Anchor Collaborative, St. Louis Anchor Action Network, and Healthy Neighborhoods Albuquerque.
A trusted backbone organization generally serves as the convener of an anchor collaborative. The backbone organization is a third party that moves efforts forward by coordinating regular communication convening collaboration and promoting their work. Examples of backbone organizations include foundations, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
Montclair assembled a group of anchor institutions to help support Paterson One Square Mile and Paterson on a broader level. TCG facilitated the kickoff meeting to help the groups think about how to organize and the next steps. The collaborative is currently working to organize themselves and plan for the future.
You can read more about the Paterson One Square Mile project in this client story.
Are you looking to tackle a complex issue in your community? TCG has years of experience working with communities, business partners, leaders in higher education, and more to use the collective impact framework to support an anchor collaborative. Let’s chat!
