Shifting Power: How to change systems by centering those most impacted by inequity through collective leadership

Based on research conducted from 2023-2024 by the Network Impact team and partner Claire Reinelt, this casebook explores six collective leadership initiatives designed to activate and center those who have been marginalized and excluded from positions of leadership. They are candid stories of change that highlight why a shift to collective leadership was necessary, and what ongoing work looks like in action and feels like in practice.

The casebook is designed to support:

• People and organizations across sectors working collaboratively to advance equity through systems change;

• Organizers who are looking for insights into the practice of collective leadership, including approaches that have been successful in different contexts; and

• Funders and others interested in learning more about how to provide collective leadership efforts with the support they need to succeed.

The cases highlight the values of and challenges to distinctive collective leadership models, and offer best practices from experience-rich practitioners. Each story explores how and why these models were developed; which supports have been critical to implementation; and what their successes and impacts have been.

• Access and download the full online casebook and each individual case here.

As part of this research, a number of resources related to collective leadership were compiled, which we have made available here.