Daily Prompt: Teach your Bloggers well

The Latino Commission on AIDS is not only a grassroots organization addressing the health needs of Latinos and other ethnic minorities, but it also is a teacher –a capacity building assistance provider – nationally in the United Nations.  Our Hands United program assists other health care providers –be it clinics or community based organizations- shift in response to the ever changing economic and scientific advances environment.

These ever changing environments bring with them “disruptive innovations” (Christensen, 1997).   Disruptive innovations are typically cheaper, more reliable and simpler than an established technology.   We have seen this repeatedly in society at large. One key example is that of the VHS versus beta in th4 early ‘80s. Soon, VHS one out and went on to change how we experience movies as it eventually led to the advent of Netflix, HULU and Amazon Prime which have completely disrupted the movie and television script. Just recently, the show House of Cards won an Emmy (which is an award for television work) although it is produced and seen on Netflix-an entirely internet based experience.

In the non-profit and HIV/AIDS field there are numerous disruptive innovations from shifts in funding streams to biomedical advances such as the home test and shifts in how prevention itself is defined and subsequently addressed.

Thus, what we do is help organizations pivot using our experienced-based model called CHANGE, an acronym standing for: Customized; Holistic; Analytical; Networking; Grassroots; and Evaluatory (Vega, 2009). CHANGE is very much derived from the business literature that addresses disruptive innovations.  By providing trainings, executive coaching sessions and technical services, we help organizations pinpoint their mission and corresponding work so that they are customized to their client’s needs in an all–encompassing manner.  By being holistic, the organization engages in a guided self-reflection process that is rooted in the community being served. In these times of economic shifts, there is also a need to leverage resources and find complimentary partners. Partnership cannot be forgone and are needed for both the sustainability of organizations and also for the general well-being of the client.

If you are looking to pivot, take yourself or your organization to the next level or understand how to address what can potentially be scary technological advances, you can utilize the CHANGE model tenets to get yourself a business plan that addresses the changing landscape.

While this work is serious, we also have a fun time engaging with partners across the country. We have been so lucky to have met so many great workers in this field. Drop us a line or an email-we would love to chat and get to learn about disruptive technologies around the country.

Written By: Miriam Vega
Follow @miriamyvega