How we work
Five repeatable steps. One loop.
What we illuminate becomes the next alignment. The same five steps run through every engagement; only the depth changes.
Step by step
What happens at each step
01
Align
We agree on the frame, the process, the scope, and who decides, with your leadership and community leaders at the table.
You get
A shared charter: the question, the people, and what success looks like.
In practice
CEA’s 16-member Launch Committee seated grassroots and grasstops as equals.
02
Understand
We quantify the challenge and build a point of view with the people affected. They help read the data, not just appear in it.
You get
A shared, honest picture of where things stand.
In practice
130 surveys and 29 focus groups shaped A Better Chicago’s strategy.
03
Co-design
We shape solutions through sense-making and creation with impacted communities.
You get
A plan your community already backs.
In practice
35 listening sessions in English, Spanish, and Mandarin shaped CEA’s agenda.
04
Catalyze
We pilot, test, and adjust alongside your team, with early wins people can see.
You get
Momentum, funding, and proof that it works.
In practice
Our co-design partnership with the Chicago Park District helped reduce violence in city parks.
05
Illuminate
We make the impact visible, tell the story together, and pass on the tools so the work keeps shining.
You get
A team that runs the work without us, and a story to share.
In practice
Family Focus’s board adopted Vision 2030 on schedule; 11 centers aligned.
Our guarantee
Every recommendation traces back to community voice. Every engagement ends with your team owning the tools.
One method, three service lines
The depth changes. The steps don’t.
Strategy
Strategic plans, landscape analyses, new organizations
Leadership
Coaching and cohorts for leaders
Engagement
Co-design and community engagement
Questions
Frequently asked
How long does an engagement take?
Most engagements last 6–9 months, depending on your needs. A focused sprint typically takes 3–5 months; for strategic plans, we recommend planning for 6–9 months; and longer-term change requires dedicated, sustained support, typically 14–36 months.
Who will be on my team?
A TLC core team member leads every engagement, with Collective specialists matched to your needs.
How do you reach communities that are hard to reach?
Through our process, we map the critical stakeholders and develop a plan alongside your team for the best way to reach them. Some engagements call for stipends, bilingual materials, and sessions held where people already gather.
What happens after you leave?
Your team owns the tools. Every engagement ends with a handoff and training, and you become part of our community: we’ll always find ways to stay in touch.
Ready to start with Align?
Every partnership starts with Align: one conversation to frame the challenge, the people it affects, and what success looks like.
Bring an idea to life