March 2020
Spring – And Change – Is In The Air
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Why? Why? (Why, Why, Why) – The 5 Why Technique
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A Successful February 28 Institute
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February Highlights
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Upcoming Events
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Spring – And Change – Is In The Air
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On Thursday, March 19 we usher in Spring. Noted naturalist and philosopher John Muir said, “Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.”
Springtime is all about change. Just as nature progresses out of winter to new growth, so does Eastside Pathways. The Partnership is moving out of our organizing for implementation phase into creating our new Collaborative Action Networks and Ages & Stages Network. Lots of positive change is in the air. This is an exciting time for the Eastside Pathways Partnership and we look forward to pursuing our mission of “every child thriving, cradle to career” with renewed vigor and joyful enthusiasm.
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Why? Why? (Why, Why, Why)
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Asking “why?” is a good thing. Asking why again (and again) can be an even better thing. As anyone with experience around small children knows, kids love to dig deeper into an answer, often not satisfied with the first response. As it turns out, the kids are onto something which as adults we often leave behind.
The 5 “Why” approach is an iterative questioning technique used to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a particular problem. The primary goal of the technique is to determine the root cause of an issue by repeating the question "Why?". Each answer forms the basis of the next question. The "5" in the name isn’t a hard and fast rule, just an observation of the need for repeated discovery questions.
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The 5 Whys Technique can be a useful tool for determining the root cause of issues or key factors.
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Keep this technique in mind when you’re conducting, for example, a Factor Analysis in upcoming CANs or other Eastside Pathways working sessions. Ideally, you might apply this method to each factor. In reality, you will more than likely focus on a few key factors. Then use the 5 Whys to uncover root causes and mental models which are driving those factors. And most importantly, be sure and validate these suppositions.
Here is a classic illustration of how the 5 Whys technique can help determine the root cause of an issue. Let’s say you work for the National Park Service. Management has noticed that the Jefferson Monument is deteriorating faster than other monuments. Your job is to find out why. Here’s how a 5 Why exploration might go (okay, this took 6 Whys but you get the point):
1. Why does the memorial deteriorate faster?
Because it gets washed more frequently. This is destructive to the material.
2. Why is it washed more frequently?
Because it receives more bird droppings.
3. Why are there more bird droppings?
Because more birds are attracted to the monument.
4. Why are more birds attracted to the monument?
Because there are more juicy spiders in and around the monument.
5. Why are there more spiders in and around the monument?
Because there are more tiny insects flying in and around the monument during
evening hours.
6. Why are there more insects?
Because the monument’s illumination attracts more insects.
What’s the root cause of this issue? Current lighting attracts too many insects. What’s the solution? Change the lighting. Granted, this is a more Technical solution, but the technique also works well for Adaptive Challenges.
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A Successful February 28 Institute
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Kristie Neklason, Chiew Jones, Maria Alejandra Gomez, Judy Buckmaster, Sherryl Grey
at the February 28 Eastside Pathways Institute, attended by 35 Partners and individuals.
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On Friday, February 28, the Eastside Pathways Backbone convened another Partnership-wide learning opportunity convening. These Institutes are designed to align the Partnership with the techniques and competencies Eastside Pathways will incorporate into all of our work moving forward.
The day began with a mini review of Eastside Pathways 101, our goals, mission, and updated path to participation. Afterward, Partners split into four groups, each rotating through a short introductory breakout session around four competencies: Collective Impact, Adaptive Leadership, Equitable Results Series, and Racial Equity. These sessions were facilitated by fellow Eastside Pathways Partners. All told, there were 35 attendees at the Institute.
Convening emcee Phoebe Anderson of Child Care Resources, commented on the effectiveness of the meeting,
“The EP Institute offers Partners a chance to develop relationships with one another, and since this work is built on relationships, trust and a shared vision, this is critical. We learn together, make commitments together and stand behind the mission of EP together.”
A big thank you to Eastside Pathways Partners Erika Flesher, Gloria Henderson, Debbie Lacy, Helena Stephens, and Reba Wirtel for helping to facilitate the breakout sessions, Maria Alejandra Gomez, Susan Griffin, Chiew Jones, and Byron Shutz for being room captains, and an extra-big thanks to Phoebe Anderson for emceeing the convening as well as setting a welcoming tone for the day by leading the group through our Gracious Space exercise.
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As a closing activity, Eastside Pathways Partner Alicia Brender from the Bellevue School District facilitated a collaborative drawing exercise. Groups of four took turns drawing a different part of a human body from head to feet, each person not aware of what the previous person had drawn. The results were fun and informative. Each person added their experiences and viewpoints to create a whole, unique being.
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Alicia Brender of Bellevue School District led the closing collaborative drawing exercise.
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Everyone in the Partnership contributes their own unique services and abilities to create a whole individual.
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As a reminder, attendance at an Institute is necessary to fully participate in the upcoming work. Partners only need to attend once. The next opportunity to attend an Institute is:
Tuesday, March 10; 4 – 9 PM
Westminster Chapel, 13646 NE 24th Street, Bellevue, WA 98005
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- More than 10 Partners and prospective Partners attended the Eastside Pathways 101 on February 10.
- At the first of the two Council Design meetings, the Partnership Councils met to discuss and strategize about how the councils will advise the Partnership in the coming work. Representatives from the Partner Development, Racial Equity, and Data Councils were in attendance.
- The Backbone continued to meet for “Ages & Stages” planning to design the outline and meeting results for the upcoming series of meetings beginning in March.
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March 10
– Eastside Pathways Institute (
register
)
March 19
– Council Design Convening (second of two)
March 27
– All-Partner (Ages & Stages) Convening (
register
)
April 3
– Eastside Pathways 101 (
register
)
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Giving every child the opportunity to thrive from cradle to career requires dedication and teamwork. That’s why Eastside Pathways helps individuals and organizations collaborate to focus their efforts, find efficiencies and increase their impact. Together, using a proven framework and data-driven strategies, we create better outcomes for our youth.
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