Catalyst

Catalysts are a community of innovators who are leading strategic efforts to transform the systems that support underserved populations. Catalysts develop expansive mindsets, combine creative and analytic methods, and push projects beyond conventional thinking to new possibilities.

During our virtual capability building program, Catalysts learn and practice “design thinking,” also known as “human-centered design,” to explore strategic challenges within their organizations. Human-centered design is an approach to problem solving that is rooted in understanding people’s needs and experiences. In our Catalyst program, we emphasize the practice of “co-design,” wherein the stakeholders affected by the problem – whether they are clients, caregivers, frontline or ancillary staff, or community partners – play a pivotal role in co-creating service experiences of the future.

As a Catalyst, you will learn how to work differently by applying human-centered design methods and mindsets to a strategic challenge facing your organization. You will become a change agent to discover and test new ways of addressing complex challenges, partnering with colleagues across internal hierarchy and collaborating across sectors. To advance your team’s work, you will receive training, peer-sharing and learning, in-depth workshops, ongoing coaching from design thinking practitioners in the safety net, and an on-demand resource library.