SOUTHERN ILLINOIS commitments cohort

A learning journey to revive the Human Service Sector in rural Illinois.

advance social change.

Illinois Partners for Human Service, in partnership with The Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, hosted a Southern Illinois Nonprofits Symposium on January 24, 2018 to consider the significance of joining forces to strengthen the Human Services sector in Southern Illinois. Nearly 100 leaders and decision makers from more than 50 Southern Illinois organizations participated in the event.

The symposium delved into the challenges faced in rural Southern Illinois that limit organizations’ potential impact on the health and well-being of their communities. Unstable finances, logistical issues, declining access to an adequate workforce, and other challenges impact human service organizations and hinder their potential ability to help families and communities achieve their full potential.

The Southern Illinois Nonprofits Symposium served as a kick-off event for a one-of-a-kind peer network learning opportunity. The cohort of ten to fifteen organizations that are chosen to participate will apply the lessons of The Commitments of High-Impact Nonprofit Organizations as a framework for greater impact throughout Southern Illinois. The nine-month learning journey will culminate in strategies to strengthen Human Services throughout Southern Illinois by utilizing the organizations’ transformative power to enhance well-being in our communities.