Communication and Sharing Knowledge

The partnerships studied identified the need for peer-to-peer, organization-to-organization learning exchanges ranging from strategic planning and research to curriculum development and program administration. Although they are powerful institutional players within their sectors and regions, high road partnerships can learn much from one another but have few opportunities for direct contact. In fact, most of the partners brought together by this study had never met before—a fact leading the Working for America Institute to establish a much-needed network of partnerships. The core of the network activity identified by the partnerships includes:

• Creating and expanding learning exchanges to allow existing and newly forming partnerships to share information and ideas; establishing mentoring relationships.
• Organizing cluster groups or academies to bring people together from across the regions for formal training, peer-to-peer learning and joint planning.
• Developing World Wide Web or Internet-based systems to enable the partnerships to communicate in virtual settings and share best practices, alerts on funding , program material, curricula and similar material.

Working for America Action Steps: The Institute will continue working to establish a high road network utilizing the best ideas and most appropriate technology available to build an information repository and learning exchange system. Steps will include:

• Establishing a website targeted to high road activity, with links to useful information and a means for organizations to communicate with each other through the site.
• Developing an information repository to include best practice details on a wide variety of program areas, alerts on funding, program material, curricula and more.
• Using the Institute's Journal and national conference to inform, educate and promote the shared learning network.
• Organizing cluster groups for targeted formal training.