Building across difference

How to Solve Problems When People Disagree

Some problems are really hard to solve because people have different values and opinions. These are called 'wicked problems.' For example, with gun violence, it's not just about being for or against guns - there are many different viewpoints about safety, rights, mental health, and more. The same thing happens with airport security - everyone wants to be safe, but they also want privacy, convenience, and fairness. These problems can't be solved with simple answers because they involve choosing between good things that sometimes conflict with each other. When we understand that most big issues have multiple sides and values, we can work together better to find solutions that balance everyone's needs. This approach helps communities talk through tough choices instead of just picking sides.

Reports on Community Forums and Public Deliberation Projects

The Center for Public Deliberation at Colorado State University shares reports from community forums and projects that bring people together to discuss important local issues. These reports cover topics like housing, air quality, waste management, elder abuse, mental health, food systems, and urban planning. The center helps communities have better conversations about problems they face together. Their reports show what people learned and decided during these community meetings. They use special methods to help people with different views talk respectfully and find common ground. The reports include data, photos, and summaries from events held between 2007-2025. Some focus on specific cities like Fort Collins, while others look at broader regional issues in Northern Colorado. The center also publishes yearly reports about their work. These resources help other communities learn how to run their own public forums and deliberation processes. The reports demonstrate how regular citizens can come together to tackle complex local challenges through structured dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.

Cullen Foundation Gave $17M in 2023 Grants

The Cullen Foundation shared how they spent $17.16 million in grants during 2023. They gave money to four main areas that help Houston communities. The biggest amount went to Public Service programs ($4.7 million), which includes things like community centers and social services. Cultural programs got $6.5 million to support arts, museums, and cultural activities. Health Care received $4 million to help hospitals, clinics, and health programs. Education got $1.9 million for schools and learning programs. This foundation is one of Houston's major sources of funding for nonprofits and community organizations. The grants help thousands of people across the city access better services, education, healthcare, and cultural opportunities. Organizations can look at this information to understand what types of programs the Cullen Foundation supports and how much funding they typically provide in each area.

Cullen Foundation Gives $19.6M in 2025 Houston Grants

The Cullen Foundation gave out $19.6 million in grants during 2025 to help Houston organizations. The money went to four main areas: Public Service got the most at $8.6 million, followed by Education at $4.4 million, Health Care at $3.6 million, and Cultural programs at $2.95 million. The Cullen Foundation is a major Houston philanthropy that supports local nonprofits and community programs. This grant summary shows how much money was given to each area but doesn't list specific organizations that received funding. People can visit their website to learn more about individual grants and see which organizations got support. The foundation focuses on improving Houston through funding education, healthcare, public services, and arts programs.

Report Shows Worst Practices in Government and Nonprofits

The Burning Glass Institute published a report about the worst practices they found in government and nonprofit work. Instead of just looking for best practices, they asked what organizations should stop doing wrong. They surveyed people from foundations, government, and nonprofits to learn about common mistakes. The biggest problems they found include: chasing 'magic bullet' solutions that don't exist, measuring success in ways that make programs look good instead of being honest, refusing to evaluate programs at all, spending too much time planning instead of taking action, and using expensive consultants instead of hiring full-time staff. The report also talks about problems in higher education, like how college completion rates are rising but there are fewer non-college workers available. They found that organizations often focus on innovation instead of fixing basic problems. The authors want people to stop making these common mistakes so programs can work better. This research helps government agencies and nonprofits understand what doesn't work so they can improve their services for communities.