Build Healthy Places Network, in partnership with Verge Impact Partners and with support from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Blue Shield of California Foundation, is launching Communities Driving Change. This is a 12-month pilot program training Community Development Corporations in community-driven data methods which is a critical step in building community power to create healthy communities.
This pilot will support a cohort of six CDCs from urban, rural, or tribal areas in community-driven data methodologies and put it to work in a real community project. We need at least two of the candidates to be based in California – you might have some particular insight into these.
Each selected CDC will receive:
· Virtual workshops, one-on-one coaching, and peer learning over 12 months
· $22,000 in pass-through funding to support staff time and community engagement
· Hands-on support from BHPN and VIP throughout
They’re looking for CDCs with these criteria
· Are a U.S. 501(c)(3) serving low-resourced communities
· Have an active or emerging community project that could benefit from a community-driven data approach
· Can commit two staff members to the program
· Are available to begin in late October 2026
If someone comes to mind, they’d love for you to nominate them. Once nominated, organizations will receive an Invitation to Apply and submit their own application directly, so your role is simply to make the introduction by email to my at rthomassquance@
Applications open June 29th and close August 3rd, so nominations are welcome now through about mid July.
Feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be a great fit, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions to Carmen Hopkins at chopkins@buildhealthyplaces.
Warm Greetings.