It's good to see you all. I'm glad to see
so many of you on this next iteration of
our Humphrey School Summer Seminar
Series. We'll be talking about the work
of the Future Services Institute today,
and I'm really pleased that we have two
leaders of the Institute and a
student who has been very, very engaged.
Sook Jin Ong is with us, Henriët Hendriks and
we're really pleased to have Suriya
Vijayasarathy with us to moderate the session.
And you will see that there is a Q&A
function at the bottom of your
link where you can pose questions and
Suriya, I'm assuming we'll be moderating
some of those questions and making time
for this towards the end of the the hour
today. And with that I am going to turn
it over to you, Suriya, and I am going to
mute my audio and listen eagerly to
this conversation.
Awesome. Thank you,
Laura, I appreciate that. Thank you,
everyone, for joining us. So I want to
introduce our two panelists, just going
to read out a little bit of their bios.
So first up, Sook Jin Ong is the director of
the Future Services Institute, a new
initiative of the Public and Nonprofit
Leadership Center, and in this role she
really brings her interest and practice
in blending human-centered design and
participatory leadership principles to be of
service to those in human services. Sook Jin, welcome. And also joining us is
Henriët Hendriks. Henriët is the
research and evaluation director of the
Future Services Institute. She is
committed to bringing together academic
research and real-world challenges in
human services delivery and to strive
for meaningful and mutually beneficial
collaboration between universities and
state and local governments.
Henriët, welcome.
So as we get started, I just
was hoping that both of you could kind
of give everyone a little bit of context
for what the Future Services Institute
(FSI)does and a little bit of an
overview of the work that you all do.
Awesome, thank you so much, Suriya, and once
again it's just such a pleasure to be
here with all of you today. I mean, holy
moly, 128 attendees that's amazing!
And also it's just really
lovely to have this conversation be
moderated by Suriya.
Suriya has been with the Future
Services Institute for the last one
year doing a lot of work with
us, and that's an emerging leader in this
space, I'm sure you've got good
questions for us so I'm really excited
for that as well.
So just a little
snapshot for those of you who are not
familiar with the work of the Future
Services Institute: we've been here for
four years now at the Humphrey
School of Public Affairs, really
coming from a space of, how do we
leverage the kind of knowledge,
experiences, perspectives that we can
offer from the University and from the
Humphrey School to really serve the
needs of the human services sector?
So a lot of the work that we do cuts across
the state agency level, the
local government level, and also
nonprofit, working closely with
foundations and whatnot to really see
how do we try and improve services,
policies, and all the work that goes into
making human services a field that
really serves the needs of families and
communities out there in Minnesota.
And so much of  what all these
organizations want to do better, a lot of
it could be at their organizational
level and also that cuts across
your organizations across silos at
that systemic level, so we try and do
that in either close partnerships so we
have quite a number of projects with the
Minnesota Department of Human Services
different counties different nonprofits
out there we have leadership development
programs as well you know ones as
rigorous as the Human Services
leadership certificate all the way to
you know leadership programs that are
more cohort based around
equity around on trainings on engagement
engagement with communities out there
and then also research and evaluation
work that we do closely with our
partners to help them do better so this
kind of the work that we do in a
nutshell really yeah I think so ten
dozen have described it really well I
don't have much to add but if there's
kind of specific questions that the
audience has we can certainly address
those I think well thank you for that
both of you
epicyte is a lot of stuff and so it's an
overview of what you all do and and kind
of that context for everyone so let's
really get into the heart of this would
you all talk a little bit about Kobe 19
this global pandemic that we're all
dealing with and how it's really
heightened systemic inequities and
racial injustice in the human services
sector and speak a little bit to of the
challenges that the human service sector
is facing in bridging these gaps I mean
it's it's a big question I think as
Susan and I kind of thought a little bit
about this before ray does this this
webinar started one of the things we
both really recognize is that worse
we're still in it where we're in the
midst of it and so I think a question
like this like it's it's it's asking us
to start making sense of that faith like
how has government responded how
communities responded and how do you do
that when you're in the midst of a lot
of that still and so I think but and
then at the same time a lot has happened
I mean it feels I think the moms feel
almost in if years if you think back to
March and April and I think both
government and local communities and
local organizations have have really
responded so I think to your question of
like how has it widened disparities and
inequities I mean I think we knew full
well everyone in the human services
sector is like that they existed in
in in like all the places and in the
human service as before
and I think it's I think there's a
little bit of kind of and a paradox that
we're seeing right now that at the same
time where our government and local
communities are is responding really
quickly and and and that it has some
really benefits to it such as changes in
like requirements to access services or
programs or made that a lot can happen
online that you don't have to be there
in person at the same time that really
lays bare the disparities that were
present before in terms save of like
access to technology that's I think one
thing we heard from our partners a lot
especially local partners that it's on
the one hand great that we can move so
much online and at the same time a lot
of families don't have either the
devices to do that or the access to
reliable internet access at the same
time it's also takes tool time and an
effort and knowledge about how to
navigate all of that so I think there's
like this this may be things that we
already knew before that right that
there was an equity inequity in terms of
access to technology that is just one of
the areas where I really see that this
is heightened and that has ripple
effects right it's not just that it that
means access to to programs to services
that means to be able to take care of
your family to get just the support you
need in terms of food and housing and so
yeah I'll leave it at that so Jim Hannah
what are your thoughts on that yeah I I
love what you're saying I think this is
where you know Surya your framing right
like this is not meal for those of us
who work in this sector we know how you
know when anything right you know crisis
even on a you know typical pre-pandemic
day a lot of these issues that you know
cause families and communities to turn
towards human services programs and
policies for
you know like it disproportionately
affects our black indigenous and
communities of color out there and so
when something like the pandemic happens
right like we are just seeing that gap
deepens and when you think of you know
the work that gets impacted right you
know folks that are out there you know
being the essential workers so to speak
or ones that you know end up losing your
jobs first like that's where the
disproportion this portion ality impacts
and then you know you see that show up
in terms of the needs so what I thought
it's also really encouraging is seeing
how the local you know governments a
non-profit even the state you know
responding in ways that all right you
know we know that we're not gonna get
this right right off the game but let's
keep finding ways to listen to families
that keep finding ways to you know
really hear and kind of manage that
track of like listening getting feedback
and at the same time implementing all
these changes that were you know at one
point just coming at such a rapid rate
for those that were delivering services
to try and manage the needs that were
coming so I think you know that the need
is not lost on anyone that's in this
sector and I'm just really heartened
that despite you know the way in which
that you know folks have really jumped
in and trying you know cater to that
deep need that you know at least through
the partners that the Future Services
Institute has we're also seeing that
thoughtfulness of like alright let's not
just rush to the you know urgency of the
moment let's make sure that where we had
existing communication channels where we
had existing partnership let's keep
leveraging that especially more so in
moments like this so I feel heartened by
that and I think this is where you know
in the kind of work that we try to do we
try and make sure that relationships are
the center point right of you know
collaboration of you know innovation and
I think more than ever like
really speaks to the importance of that
like just because we got a crisis
doesn't mean that we need to stop
communicating in fact it's more
important than ever yeah there's so much
to chew on with with everything that
we'll talked about there right like
there's there's both the the response by
government the response by community and
then that partnership in between as well
and looking at you know specifically
looking at all these inequities
especially regards to black indigenous
people of color that have always been
there everyone has known has always been
there and are now being heightened and
exacerbated by this the vibe is pandemic
I wanted to jump on a little bit of
something that you mentioned so chin and
Aria you mentioned this - about this
ability - especially for government to
be nimble to be able to respond to
crisis and government has a reputation a
little bit for being slow bureaucratic
and you know slow to change but we have
seen a certain agility from from our
government institutions in terms of
responding to questions for you then why
does it take a crisis to to see that
type of change and going forward what is
are there ways for government to be more
proactive rather than reactive and learn
from this crisis those are good
questions and I do wonder a little bit
if it's the the narratives right that we
are exposed to I think in many ways all
speak for myself
that you know I've been fortunate to
work with some phenomenal partners at
the local government level at the state
agency level so we are you know like
like I'm exposed to folks that are doing
the hard work they are really trying to
fight for these changes right internally
you know using whatever authority and
leverage that they could get so like I
hear those stories and yet when we think
about what's the narrative that's out
there when it comes to governments and
change and innovation it's rare that you
hear stories of things going well like
you know we are so saturated with things
not working you know complain
like oh yeah there was this big mess up
right now you know government has to fix
and so I think you know it's important
for well for us
you know people that need to know what
government is working on to hear what
some of those changes are both to stay
in form and also to inform the processes
and so you know in ways in which that I
have seen our public sector partners
especially respond to this crisis there
are finding ways to hear that I think
you know there's also peace with because
it's the pandemic and all of us are
staying at home and you know glued to
our cell phones and the computer you
know our awareness of what the changes
are heightens quite a bit so hopefully
that some of this you know changes
around how folks are able to access
programs and services you know gets to
them sooner gets to them quicker
hopefully that they're hearing about
some of these changes that makes a
difference in their lives more quicker
and I think this goes to that second
question that you asked around what what
could government do right like I feel
like this is where because you know for
whatever reason the pandemic has also
caused some openings in terms of
willingness for people to you know meet
across the aisle push to push through
some changes that are immediately needed
that we don't take this as a one-off
instance like let's really treat this as
you know the starting point or progress
in terms of the changes that would
really serve the families and
communities that we train surf out there
like what if we treat all these waivers
policy changes and whatnots as potential
prototypes what if we learn from that
and so I hope that you know once we are
not caught in that you know heat of the
moment the crisis so to speak that were
able to pause and ask ourselves like
what have we learned from seeing some of
these changes put into place and
especially if our goal is to push for
changes so that
programming our policies are more
racially just you know if they pay
attention to the inequities and address
that like let's make sure we don't
reverse on some of these changes that
are making progress to its that
direction like what can we learn from
this moment really yeah I think I would
echo all of that and this kind of I
think reflecting like what what happens
in a time of crisis
if heard from like different kind of
organizations partners we work with that
it has it doesn't kind of narrowed their
their their focus really on I think like
on what what really matters which is
serving families and I think when for
like local organizations nonprofits
that's really nothing new because they
work with families and communities
directly all the time but I think even
for us sitting at the university there's
often ITIF a layer in between which is
that kind of system and so you kind of
you hear stories but often indirectly
and then I think about state government
and there's even more layers and I think
what a crisis does is kind of strip that
away a little bit and think that it was
just systemic layers that you kind of
otherwise get bound up into like well
there's just law there's just policy
that we first have to work with rather
than thinking putting really what we
call like the human centered design
really like human putting people first
and in a crisis you can't but do that I
think that it brings the needs and I
think the state at Princeton and the
story is kind of what Chuck gin was
saying the the personal stories are all
around us they're in the news they come
to us through our friends our families
our neighbors we see them and so I think
that that we bring that down into our
work to when out and it kind of I think
all of us are more focused on that and
it and it and I thinking about like so
then all of a sudden some of these like
things that were standing in the way
before I grow we first have to go
through this like
of leadership and get approval for this
thing all of a sudden it can happen
faster like no we can skip that step or
because we need to you know in the
moment act fast and so I'm thinking what
can we take with us right after it is I
think holding true to that like no
matter where you sit in the human
services to remind ourselves what it is
all about that it is about in the end of
families and that I think it's almond I
had to reflect a little bit of think
when you get trained in the human
services when you come at least for me
it's been true like he come on the job
the first thing you almost learn is like
how to navigate the system you learn
about the policies in the Haas and the
statutes and
and compliance and all of that and
reporting requirements and then you
learn about like why like who this is
serve and some kind of can we reverse
that or at least really make that much
more equal where we continue to have the
communities
we're part of we serve as front and
center
and if not if we're still a way to at
least eat more much more equal and not
have this heavy tilt toward I think what
the system is of government and this
infrastructure that we're all working in
it's like the human part of human
services right yeah yeah I'm not do
stuff yeah yeah really hold on to that
yeah we take that for granted sometimes
right that's it that's in the title
right for granted that like yes of
course we serve everyone and that that's
kind of we all are agreement on that and
it's that that I think that's true in
principle but - how do you really
practice that not just in the time I
think of of crisis when we maybe come
together around kind of that yeah more
easily but also in just I don't know
normal times yeah and I hurry you
mentioned human centered design and
that's something that we've talked a lot
about that's that's kind of part of the
guiding ethic of ffs
I could you and also so Chen please feel
free to jump in you have everyone a
little bit of just context for what what
that term really means it means to have
to say as well and going going off of
that how integrating human centered
design can really help to elevate the
voices of people who experience human
services on the ground whether that's
front light workers whether that's
people with lived experience who with
these systems can you give us a little
bit of an overview of that I'm gonna
defer to septimius he's really bad the
star of that so that's a really great
question and you know this is where so a
human centered design in a nutshell is
really how do you approach problem
solving by involving those who are
impacted by it as part of the process in
a way that allows you to really learn
more about the context with them bearing
in mind you note all the factors that
would affect you know their involvement
right so whether that's not issues of
equity or access or just this like
really factor that in and then come up
with an understanding of what's really
the root problem that we're trying to
get here how might we you know leverage
the different perspectives that are
involved to come up with potential
solutions or approaches to the problem
and then kind of test them out with you
know smaller bite-size approaches and
then learn from that and keep improving
right and we really try and you know
embody that in the way that we do our
work with our partners because we
believe that you know it's you won't be
able to solve the problem if you don't
involve those who are at the heart of it
whether it's you know the family's
belief experiences or persons with lived
experiences who could tell you better
than anyone what the points are that you
know have cost them pain
right or you know the frontline staff
who are out there doing the hard work
like they're hearing the stories they
know we're on the road blocks are so if
you don't listen to them it's really
hard to know on what exactly it is
that's required to solve the problem and
conversely is the same with you know
those of us who are in positions of
authority and power like you know it's
easier to know what are the leverage
points that you could you know move or
shift if you know how policy works if
you know how to build a coalition of you
know whoever it is that's necessary at
the table so it's like you need all
these different perspectives at the
table in order to get at what it really
means to solve some of these issues
because they're just bigger than any one
of us like we really need all of us to
be a part of that problem solving yeah
and I think how do we how do we do that
in practice I think so Dan kind of time
Drive and I may have been kind of just
reflecting on that a little bit as much
as you can reflect kind of in these
times that it's real it's in it goes to
your question Surya about like you know
raising the voices and I think for me it
means truly listening to all of the
different voices and communities and
understanding that if I heard one story
from an individual or a community but
that is not all and that there is still
many more out there and like in some of
the work with like one project where I'm
working closely with in indigenous
community a tribal community and and
learning to that like knowing kind of
what they've faced that when they're
there history and kind of the oppression
they face and the racism they face and
and and at the same time write all of
the
beautiful strengths that they have as a
community me knowing that does not tell
me and make necessarily anything about
like other tribal communities within
Minnesota or outside and it's all within
like our draw boundaries kind of fest
Minnesota think that that doesn't even
stretch those boundaries are different
too and so they think recognizing that
they to put it in practice means to
commit I think a lot of time and
presence on the part of government and I
think it's it's not just we're only
about raising voices it's also making
true space for voices and I think that
means at times and maybe a lot for
government officials and experts and
also university officials and experts
they had a step back intentionally to
create that space and not just as a okay
well listen and then we'll kind of
continue but it's really the present for
the long term that is not an one time
listening session I think a lot of like
know us that kind of that sets this is
an ongoing conversation but the be as
think as as if you truly practice it I
think as I understand this like that
we're there for the conversation for the
long term and we're willing to sit and
to listen and to act on what we hear and
have a commitment to that and it might
not look like what we had intentionally
or you know set out to do and act on and
we might have to shift but to do to act
I have that commitment to to listen and
to act and yeah to just kind of build
off on that I think what hired say is so
important because you know like we
cannot presume that we know what the
best ways are to engage folks either
right I think that this is where you
know oftentimes in some of the best
partnerships that we have been in that
it's truly collaborative it's truly you
know like how we can learn from those
that we partner with and they bring with
them you know like their understanding
of the people that they're with the
relationships that they have and what it
really means to hear from each other and
from those that you know we're trying to
engage with and that also means that you
know we are constantly kind of
collectively building that ability to
hold that space for each other because
there are times when you know like like
let's just be real about you know what
it means for each of us individually and
the organizations that were with and all
that to be in the space it changes
dynamic it changes you know how we
listen and what we're listening to and
so the ability to have you know these
genuine conversations to make sure that
you know we're understanding and that we
are making sense together that helps us
to get closer to what is it that we're
trying to solve for and I think
especially in times right now you know
with co19 with the uprising that we saw
after Judge Floyd's murder like you know
we have to constantly learn and be fine
with not knowing behind it being
uncomfortable be fine with like you know
yes I do not know what I don't know and
this is why we have a partnership and
this is why we learn from each other and
you know the more that we create a space
to learn to do to just be then that
really helps us to get who you know
approaches or solutions that are more
meaningful yeah I really want to put a
pin in like that particular topic around
knowledge and and what community knows
versus you know government or
institutions might know what especially
when it comes to you know people with
lived experience we do have a great
question from the audience and really
going back to what Hari had said about
putting it in practice putting action
behind the words and that's something
that we talk a lot about you know in the
county we just the Hennepin County just
declared racism as a public health
crisis and you know the the next steps
are really action steps towards
you know combating that so they're just
trying to trying to put actions behind
the words that people are saying so the
question really comes in what are the
really the best practices and ways to
listen and engage the eins member who
submitted the question really talk it
gave the example of carries funding and
mention that in co vid you know it's
really difficult to connect in person to
engage in broader communication or
community town halls so what are some
good ideas examples best practices that
you've seen like really play in practice
in in your work and some of your
perspectives that's a great question
this brings to mind is one example that
why don't you similar examples but
particularly is one example from a
partner of ours where they really
leverage their fellow organizations like
other people that they have in their
collaboration to do some of the
engagement so they had wanted to learn
about how you know families are coping
with what's going on in the ground
during coitus raid so they have a couple
of questions that they were really
interested in and they share that among
several partner organizations and like
hey if you could survey people I'll talk
to people about these they'll be really
great and what the partner organizations
then do is in you know their case
consults or you know opportunities that
they would have to reach out and talk to
the families anyway be like hey you know
could we spend some time to really learn
about how are you never dating now right
and so the main organization that were
that was coordinating this was only
expecting like 2025 responses max but in
the end they got more than a hundred and
that was because the little bit of work
that you know each and every partner
organizations were taking on that
resulted in that snowballing rate of you
know like more responses coming in so
here you know like I've also seen other
examples shared by you know your
students or
partners where when they leverage the
relationships that they have and really
work with them because these are also
questions that these organizations are
interested in themselves right so what
are some ways that we could look at the
partnerships that we have with new eyes
with new perspectives
how could you reach out to your partners
and be like hey I'm interested in
learning about this are you as well
let's you know try and find avenues that
are already there to build this
engagement because I feel like you know
especially during times of COBIT if
you're trying to build new relationship
it's pretty hard given the kind of
constraints that we have but it doesn't
mean that you cannot let you know like
really use existing relationships that
you have to be the spaces to listen so I
often encourage people to at least start
with who you know start with folks that
you know and you know find ways to make
sure that you pay attention to well
where they are as well because it might
not be the right time to engage them and
that's okay but at least ask because you
never know yeah I say yes to kind of
like everything that sucked in just said
and it kind of thinking of it the more
from like the evaluation perspective we
have this one project that we started
March 1st and so we had one meeting in
person with just one kind of our main
contact person at this organization and
then Kovach 19 happened and so we had to
build all of our relationships online
and and it's been hard and I think we
really had to let go a little bit of
like what we had intended to do and not
kind of chase that and think wait we can
just put everything kind of what we had
online and just go with that because it
simply doesn't work that way I think to
do like a lot of the work we do like
relationships and Trust are key I think
as an evaluator you can ask questions if
you don't have the trust that how you
and that you will use this or you kind
of yeah but that you use the information
or how
what you will do with it in a way that
you can be open and transparent about
and also circle backs like you you might
get an answer but it might really not be
the answer to the question you're asking
and so like how that was they think a
real challenge cysts and if let go off
kind of you know the the in person
relationship building we would do have
to have one online and that just took a
lot longer and really enough giving
space for that so in that like we we we
always start off I think this is a
practice in our within our own team but
I love with a lot of the partner
meetings we meetings we have with our
partners to is with a checking question
and so just and if and you can do it in
multiple ways they can get a really big
group you can have people just add some
questions in the chat you can have
Google Documents where people type up or
just kind of go around if it's a smaller
group and sometimes they're pretty heavy
and sometimes are pretty meaty checking
questions or where you're asked I think
people like share something maybe more
personal but sometimes this is very
light to like the kind of conversation
to you would otherwise have before you
start a meeting because I think what's
hard with these online we dive into a
lot of deep things immediately when we
do the kind of engagement and that is
just difficult I think for all of us and
so starting off with like I don't know
what did you let go we just share it
kind of like yeah favorite books and
podcast and movies or you know what puts
a smile on your face when when your last
couple days so I think that relationship
building and the trust is is so key in
this work to keep engaging with each
other
whether that be like within own organ
within an organization and then also
starting that with or continue that with
families and communities and keep doing
that finding ways to do that I think
through that online platforms as well
and so and then also it what I think
would subdue must say like thinking
about it really creatively
different ways that we do the same when
Sifton was singing about you know
working with partner organizations I put
this evaluation we were kind of like we
can't go in and just randomly email and
call people who have no idea who we are
so we we formed and have a learning team
within an organization so staff were
already there know the organization
really well and they do interviews like
just short interviews with different
staff and different organizations and
then that snowballs and and what they're
learning it's not just that they get
information back about the project but
they're also building new connections
through that so it's it's and that helps
made whether I think that will help as
we stay online that also will help when
we come back in some ways together that
we that we continue to think like how do
we build that with all of the
limitations that we have and all of the
challenges we face can I tie that to a
question that popped out for it from an
attendee so one of you asked about how
your County has 2.5 million to spend to
its cares between July and December
first and it's that mix between the
urgency right like you've got to get the
money out you've got to get it out the
door and you know engaging and
collaborating and conversations you know
take time yet alone the fact that you
know everyone is stretched like I think
that is such a good thing to bring up
because we have to be real about that
one thing that you know not to say that
this is the answer to that question one
thing that we have seen repeatedly in
the different projects and partnerships
that were on is to actually have that
frank conversation be like you know
let's be real like you all are busy you
all are you know just really stretch
working extra hours there's all these
things on our collective plates and
there are you know whatever the
opportunities right in this case the
cares funding so then really kind of
have that conversation around
prioritizing conversation around like
okay what are some of the steps that we
need or conversations that needed to be
and when can we get to it and are we you
know
like will we be able to leverage other
ways of being together right whether
it's a subset of us that half the
conversation and then float it with the
larger group to work on things or you
know there may be like okay let's try
and have this conversation by then and
before that there's all these homework
that each of us need to do before we get
to that conversation so like kind of
finding other configurations so that you
still get to hear from you know as many
different voices or from at least from
different groups so that you're not just
stuck with only one way of saying
spending the money or meeting the needs
that are needed but at the same time you
know just kind of respect where everyone
is at with regards to you know just how
stretch folks are right because I think
you know it's one thing to be like yeah
we're all stretch and then there's also
the well you know given this opportunity
or given this thing is coming up I
personally can say that I am able to
spend this much time or I am able to
clear my schedule during this time
because this means a lot to me and the
best way to find out is to ask that
question
point-blank yeah and I appreciate that
answer I think also going going to the
question as well there's a lot of meat
in this question especially around the
idea of collaboration that we talk a lot
about getting input listening to
community listening to people across you
know divides but it really comes down to
how do we really integrate their input
and experience into the work that we do
so what does it mean to really
meaningful meaningfully collaborate in
the human services sector especially
with these limitations of physical
distancing technology what does that
look like for us now and going forward
that's another great question I think
it's big collaboration as this this I
don't know if it's a buzzword or it's
like I mean we're all strive for true
collaboration because I think we we have
strong feeling and believe that that it
it's been much better than the silos
that we have let's say that I'm even
like with well so but then how do you do
it in practice right you can't say like
okay now let's bring together people and
collaborate because I think as the
audience member pointed out to say when
you're stretched I think collaboration
is it is about those partners and then
those partnership internal relationships
and those are they take a lot of energy
and time and even if they're
pre-existing it's like you still have to
maintain them you still have to invest
in that and so that's so hard and and I
don't know if anyone is excelling at
that right now
like I I don't hear that I think it's
it's difficult it really is I think
what's obtained was saying about being
really honest about that and if you have
that kind of the relationships before
that allow you to do that to say like I
simply can't do this but it can do this
part of it and to so then start pushing
on like what makes it that it's hard to
collaborate right it's often time to
think these deadlines like what this
what the care is Act right you have to
spend it in a certain amount of time and
they don't doubt it that we you know can
push that more but can we just be really
honest that it's really difficult to do
that that I think at the same time we're
a lot of money and I've been hearing
that I think from different partners to
is like a goal at same time like a lot
of this emergency funds and money is
coming to government and then through
government to local communities and
organizations spending it it actually is
it can be quite difficult because the
way that it went out before covert 19
you can do it in the same way and so
it's and then getting consensus on like
how you're gonna spend it and then the
budgets right it's much more difficult
to do that all online so
as if we're really honest about that and
also to our funders and say that and I
think if we collectively say that I
don't know if it changes anything but
there might be ways that I think we've
seen that with with our DHS partner
partners that if we kind of be are
transparent and open about that and we
have an honest conversation what we're
hearing from local organizations that
they're like oh well we let's just talk
to our contract manager let's talk to
legal and see what is possible it might
not be all be possible maybe there's
some little bit more flexibility or at
least I can connect you to another
organization that's struggling with the
same thing and you don't have time to
reinvent that we all do it all on your
own and at the same time I think it's
difficult it's just incredibly difficult
yeah I want to tie all that back to the
idea of communities as well and we've
talked a lot about government kind of
from the more ground level we have a
great question about how our communities
finding support and staying together
through this distancing what are some of
the other you know like community-based
ad hoc things that are mopping up the
government needs to be aware of to be
able to support and also to kind of
allow to happen as community knows
what's best for them that that's a great
question I think like two of the
questions from the audience kind of gets
to that I think this is where we have to
remember that we are not just you know
employee of X organization right you
know all of us are community members
ourselves you know we're parents or
siblings or you know like we know people
we're neighbors we're friends we are in
community ourselves like we cannot
separate those roles on all the time and
this is where you know if folks are
aware of a need you know if you're aware
of a need in your organized in your
neighborhood if you're aware of a need
in your
and you know like someone then she'll
mutual aid or ad hoc efforts that have
emerge and we saw a lot of that you know
like when Cohen was really ramping up
and then especially after the murder of
George Floyd they this is where it's
like you have probably folks that know
about it in your own organization so in
your own teams and if you don't you know
there are probably partners who are out
there doing the work so I think there's
a little bit the onus on us to do some
of those almost like information seeking
or relationship like you just like
knowing what's going on out there and
also be open with the fact that you know
you're not gonna know what to do
immediately what's the right thing to do
if you are even the right person to do
it I think you have that humility is
important as well and also be mindful
right of the dynamic like it was
expressed in one of the questions that
you know there's issues of mistrust for
example with different involvement
especially where government is involved
so know that it's gonna take time you
know be rail about what you could do and
what you couldn't do and what like why
are you engaging in the first place why
are you engaging because you genuinely
could see that yes you know there's a
need and there ways that we can provide
resourcing or you know our space or
whatever that might be that you have to
make this a mutual and beneficial
relationship or are you doing it because
you feel like oh if we don't do
something you're gonna say something
about this or you know coming from a
space of guilt instead it's like no like
really get to the heart of why why do
you want to do this and how could you do
this in a way that allows you to really
show up and be real about you know what
you could do when what you couldn't do
in this space so that comes to mind and
I'm just gonna I'm also seeing couple
like these questions around human
services providers being really empty
depleted burned out and I just want to
acknowledge that it's like that
I think these two like it's I I hear
that a lot if I feel like myself and I
can't even begin to think of I think
that was already true before : 19 I
think our human services providers and
frontline staff are just there like I
would say literally like day in day out
and to support families and communities
and they think now it's it's more and
theirs and that's I think that the
paradox again right there's at the same
time there's more funding available but
not necessarily kind of more staff or
organizations to do that work anything
so that that question to buck how can
new providers be developed and allowed
into these funding opportunities I think
that it just asking that question is so
good to think of like that we think
about that it kind of comes back to this
when I think about the crisis we come
together but we also I think near or a
vision I'm kind of what what's in place
and it's hard to think about new ways of
doing or could be creative and to remain
ourselves and honor the people we work
with organizations we work with to to
keep asking those questions because we
can do it all and we know this is not
just for the next couple of weeks or
months it's it's for the long haul and
so how do we support each other I don't
know like it's a good question about the
funding opportunities or the sorry the
resources that are out there one thing
that comes to mind is there's this
really gorgeous resource out there by
Deepa Iyer
the EPA i ye are and she had this whole
resource around understanding our roles
in a social change kind of environment
or ecosystem and it's important for us
to recognize that there are many
different roles for us to play out there
and this is where you know like what if
all of us recognize you know where we
are at with regards to our own roles
right you know what if you know we've
recognized that our role in the human
services feel is to serve you know
social change and he looks very
different than the folks that are out
there in the front lines it looks very
different than the healers and the
teachers it looks very different than
the guides and the you know agitators
like all of us have different roles to
play so how might we think of the work
that we're doing as part of you know
pushing for change even though it might
look different from each other and then
really think about what you know
self-care means in relation to that work
right so not to think like oh cuz I'm
doing my work I'm not serving community
needs I'm like no we need you you're
doing your forth and work like please be
there you know so how do we think about
that differently I think it's really key
as well yeah and I think there's also
this really good side of this question
as well that came in around you know
developing the providers and new funding
opportunities it's also this idea that
there's a whole new crop of amazing
talent that's coming up and leaders that
are coming up we're talking about young
people the Tynemouth existing you know
organizations that are now finally
getting their due because they've been
doing the work for so long and now
finally they have a time to shine in
this in this space so what are some ways
that human the human service
professionals especially in government
agencies can lift up those those new
leaders can provide more opportunities
for them to you know get easier access
to funding to be able to provide them
opportunities to be in the limelight and
to do the work that they're really
really good at what what does that look
like and how do we how do we do that I
love that question I think that all of
us have a responsibility to think from a
space of abundance it's like you know if
you know you have an upcoming
opportunity like don't just share it
with your usual networks right you know
I share it beyond like who else and then
maybe you would encourage those that you
know to you know share it Beyond and
also be real about the limitations of
your network it's like who do you not
know and
Oh potentially might know folks that are
outside of your network and you know
like encourage them to spread that word
right because I think you know right now
like the question that was asked was so
true it's like immediately return to
those that we know immediately and yet
there's all these amazing folks out
there that are doing work so like what
if we try those of us who are in this
sector like take it upon yourself do
that little bit of hard work and you
don't really ask like who are you really
reaching who are you not reaching and
how might you reach out right you know
like be able to push that out and not
just see that you know your existing
channels are sufficient because frankly
they're not so you know like we have to
do the work to go beyond yeah and I want
to kind of come back to like that's like
thinking creatively I think at the same
time but we have extra funding a lot of
us are facing hiring freezes which makes
it it's again a paradox if more work and
more and people already being at
capacity or over capacity and enlisting
roles and organizations and so really
kind of pushing to be creative as much
as as possible it just reminds me of an
example of like a consortium of
universities in the Midwest or in a
network and there was some money through
through a foundation and one of the
questions like how do we best spend that
is that through like a grand to a
partnership with a university and and
nonprofit or is it through supporting
faculty to do research or with the third
option which we all kind of said yes do
that is like to just look to further
explore if you could hire someone as a
recent graduate student from from a
public policy school to do work in the
in the human services sector and so to
support them for the long for like a
couple of years that that's kind of a
creative way to get around
with these hiring freezes and I think if
you couple that with what sodimm says
it's like when you fill those kind of
think about these positions and that way
the surya what you were brought up like
the leaders to really think carefully
that about who who are we considering
here and and how do we really lift up
people who've been doing this work for a
long time in such important ways so yeah
keep pushing and if you can't find find
partners who are willing to do it maybe
have a little bit more capacity to do it
yeah um to just in the interest of time
and then we only have a few minutes left
so we do have one more question in the
chat that I will ask and then we'll kind
of roll it into kind of my last takeaway
for you all so kind of going back to
this idea you know burnout you know
we're all kind of stretch then and kind
of looking at you know what what would
be the results if human service
providers aren't able to get that
support that they need and maybe some
more creative to your point
are you more creative ways for agencies
to start distributing work and new ways
to kind of alleviate that strain it's a
it's a really good question I wish I had
kind of a better answer than thinking I
think it's kind of what sucked in like
but at the same time where we have our
different roles and and with that com
responsibilities and we don't have to do
it all at the same time it's also
letting go a little bit of some of roles
for for those of us who can i think
there's where maybe your role was to be
enough for me like an evaluator but it
doesn't mean like i hold on to that very
tight when the need is more to bring
people together or to to support in that
way and so i yeah i mean i don't have a
much better answer to that and I wish I
did I am happy to think about it more
too and share it
yeah I now can follow up with that
really quickly um I I think there is
going to be continuous support at least
from our looking at it you know upstream
or downstream so to speak for like
funding and whatnots like I think people
are recognizing how hard this moment in
time happens to be but at the same time
you know we are also facing well just
the reality around you know like
downsizing freezing of hiring you know
funders that may be flexible for now but
may not real
their commitment down the line so I
think that that's still kind of playing
out and hopefully that you know we're
all able to kind of pay attention see
what's coming and share that with each
other so I think there may be some and
I'm just just really being able to share
the story of your work share the story
of the work that is being done by your
partners and share the story of the
community I think the more that you know
we're able to be real about what it is
that we're collectively facing the more
that you know whoever that's going to be
doing and paying attention to the
resourcing part that they're able to get
those information and really come to
advocate together like some of the
things that I've seen happening are the
results of collective push or collective
advocacy so I know times are hard to
collaborate and you know like let's be
creative about that we whatever
constraints that's real for you awesome
well I just want to quickly in the last
like minute or two that we have asked
you all if people want to know more
about FSI the work that you're all doing
projects that are kind of coming up
where can they go to find more
information
I will website is the best way to finest
a reach out to us and you know I'm sure
that after this for those of you who
signed up for this webinar you'll be
getting the recording
and whatnot you know that's another way
to reach out to us as well yes and find
us they would say like reach out to us
personally to I think it just like we're
facing all of us facing enormous
challenges and also in many unique ways
and so I think not having always the
answers might not mean that there's
other people who do and so connecting
you I think we we have a great network
of amazing partners who might have had
the answers to some of the questions
that were raised here and so I think we
would do anything we can to connect to
make those to start those relationships
however that's helpful yeah awesome
well I just want to say thank you both
of you of your insight all the work that
emphasize doing it's incredible I
certainly encourage everyone who is on
the call to you know learn more about
FSI and look at the website this
discussion will also be posted on
YouTube on Tuesday should be able to get
a link to that and I just want to say
like thank you to everyone who signed on
and and listened I hope you found this
conversation to be inspiring and
informational and also as a reminder
that the Humphrey school summer seminar
series the time-twister
it will continue to next Thursday next
Thursday tune in at noon the
conversation will be with assistant
professors Gabe Chan Bonnie Keeler and
20/20 stuff graduate Maggie Rogers know
you could they're gonna be talking about
environment and energy times of civil
unrest to everyone out there stay safe
stay well stay activated thank you so
much for coming on and listening and
have a good weekend and happy 4th
everyone thank you sir everyone
