In addition to being a capacity building initiative, Intersections was designed to be about learning. PI and the Fund used these four years to analyze and understand how this work unfolds in different communities, starting with varying experience working upstream, co-leading with community residents, serving as fiscal agents, leading multisector collaboratives, and more. There was no expectation of a one-size-fits-all approach to the work. Despite the specific community context of each Intersections partnership, consistent themes emerged across sites.
Learnings from the work with the communities are shared under the categories of 1) building capacity and collaboration, 2) incorporating an equity lens, and 3) pursuing systems change and upstream impact. These categories build on the core principles of Intersections and the Fund’s strategic priorities.
Our comprehensive end-of-initiative report shares these lessons for community organizations and coalitions, hospitals and health systems, and others working to advance health and wellness in their communities; there is also a specific set of recommendations highlighted for funders and grant makers.
“The biggest outcome has been the building of a solid foundation, the cultivating of important relationships, and learning to better leverage opportunities and resources that will lead to systemic changes.” –Napa Intersections Partner