The Working Groups
DISCOVER’s equity and environment working groups met consistently for over two years (2020-2023) to identify regional targets as well as regional indicators and data sources. They also began to map the ecosystems by identifying related regional organizations and programs. The two groups created 60 regionalized targets from 10 of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
In Fall of 2023, the health and infrastructure working groups convened for the first time to begin their discussions on regional targets. They created X regionalized targets from the remaining SDGs.
Together the working groups have prioritized the identification of indicators that we can track with existing data sets. This is about leveraging and better connecting the resources we already have in the region.
To date, a tremendous amount of work has been accomplished, thanks to the leadership and dedicated effort of the steering committee. Despite the hurdles of scheduling Zoom meetings (at the onset of Covid-19, starting a new complex undertaking, and building new relationships at a time when in person gatherings were still off the table, participants still showed up with their ideas, expertise, and enthusiasm. In doing so, they not only helped articulate regional UN SDG targets and indicators, they built trust with one another and the foundation for this work.
It is not trivial to convene a network at a reasonable pace and with inclusive consensus on decision making. Beyond the logistical concerns of learning new tools, such as Zoom and Jamboard, we have made an effort to prioritize proactive, informative, and genuine multi-way communication. This has been imperfect at times but always toward a prevailing, critical guiding principle to make sure everyone feels heard and understood. We have put this into practice through simple but important strategies: ensuring we give people multiple options for input with sufficient time to do so, offering variety in our scheduled times, and routinely having authentic conversations with stakeholders.
We have a replicable process that can be used by dozens and dozens of facilitators across southwestern Pennsylvania to align our efforts and resources, use data to provide shared understanding, strategies, and narratives. The resulting outcomes are forecasted to support informed decisions and actions, enhance fluency and literacy to use data to instigate change, and cultivate a network with a common feeling of agency and solidarity. Looking ahead to the longer term outcomes, the DISCOVER project will improve targets, enhance cross-sector investments, increase feelings of accountability, engagement and empowerment, and grow a culture of data use to measure and manage positive change for our communities. Our region’s decision-makers will be more equipped to take stances – and action – on the issues that matter most to our communities. Our system will work more effectively in ensuring an equitable and sustainable future for Southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Untitled Pittsburgh Partnership
In 2022, a cohort of DISCOVER members participated in a six month partnership with the global Untitled Alliance. This unique collaboration between the DISCOVER network and Untitled, an initiative of the Finnish nonprofit think tank Demos Helsinki, aimed to align the learning, coordination, and resourcing of a cohort of Pittsburgh nonprofits. As a result of this imaginative process, participants left with new approaches to systems thinking for more intentional collaboration/coalition building; bold, new ideas; and with a fascinating introduction of the foresight and futures disciplines.
The project resulted in the creation of an approach to coalition work as well as identifying what is needed to activate it.