Cooking Up Collaboration!

Thomas Bryer, PhD

Associate Professor, School of Public Administration

Visiting Professor & Fulbright Scholar, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania)

Visiting Professor, Edge Hill University (United Kingdom)

I am a volunteer.

I feel compassion toward people in need.

Volunteering gives me an opportunity to give back to

my community.

I believe that those who have more should help those with

less.

I love meeting new people.

I took the bus to this event today.

I drove to this event today.

I had to stop for gas while driving to this event today.

I admit it… I yelled at someone for driving like an

idiot on my way to this event today.

I admit it… I was driving like an idiot on the way to this

event today.

I volunteer every week or nearly every week.

I am a woman.

I speak more than one language.

I speak more than two languages.

I speak a language only I can understand.

I understand the mission of Second Harvest Food Bank.

I have the opportunity to communicate with volunteers

at other food pantries.

I am under the age of 30.

I believe 50 is the new 30.

I believe 50 is the new 30… and I act like it!

I am a veteran.

I think the UCF Knights are awesome.

I like cake.

I like layer cake.

I like pineapple upside down cake.

I like marble cake.

I like multi-flavored wedding cake.

A Wedding!

How do we make this marriage work?

Don’t get married for money!

Is it possible to have a civilized divorce?

Pantries led by volunteers

Pantries led by volunteers

Hundreds and thousands served

Not working together

Barriers to Collaboration in Winter Park

• No cohesive communication strategy

• Limited agency knowledge of available resources and agencies within the communities served

• Different agency time schedules

• Availability of funding for coordination activities

But Lack of Coordination and Collaboration…

…. Has a high cost to those who we are trying to serve.

Orange County Children’s Cabinet: Fragmented and Not Cohesive

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This is Not Unusual In Social Service Delivery Systems… Here’s an Example of Homeless Family Service Providers in Seminole County

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• Black lines signify clients being tracked; blue lines signify clients followed to referral point; red lines signify referral with no follow-up

What is an alternative?

HOME Network

Table Question

Think about your relationships with other organizations who are actively trying to help the same or similar people

you serve through your food distribution.

What prevents collaboration or what is needed to facilitate partnership with these organizations?

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Collaborative Governance * Democracy & Citizen Engagement * Diversity & Inclusiveness * Sustainability

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Will you love me for me if I show you my money? Will you talk to my family even when I am gone? Will you trust me when I ask for your secrets? Will you remember me when you meet someone

better? Will you “marry the man today, and change his ways

tomorrow”? Or will you respect my values?

Recipe for Successful Marriage

EMAIL: THOMAS.BRYER@UCF.EDUSKYPE AND FACEBOOK: DR.BRYER