Cross-Sector Collaboration Workshops:
Building Trust, Strategy, and Alignment

In today’s world of intersecting challenges—public safety, education, climate, housing, and equity—change-makers must move beyond siloed approaches and embrace interconnected, collaborative solutions. This workshop introduces a practical framework for collective impact, equipping participants with tools to build trust, strengthen relationships, and align efforts across differences.

Through participatory mapping, facilitated dialogue, and strategic planning, participants learn how to identify key players, uncover hidden dynamics, and launch initiatives that promote equity and inclusion across sectors.

  • Understand Collective Impact Fundamentals: Learn the principles of cross-sector collaboration and why alignment is essential for meaningful change.

  • Map Community Dynamics: Use Peacebuilding Maps to visualize stakeholders, subgroups, communication channels, and power structures within your ecosystem.

  • Recognize Cultural Blind Spots: Explore how race, gender, class, and other social factors influence collaboration, perception, and access.

  • Develop Shared Strategies: Design actionable, equity-centered projects that bring people together around common goals.

Workshop Objectives

Structure: 2-Day Workshop (2–3 hours/day)

Day 1: Foundations of Cross-Sector Collaboration

  • Intro to collective impact, trust-building, and communication across difference

  • Interactive Mapping: Create Peacebuilding Maps of your local ecosystem

  • Dialogue: Exploring communication breakdowns and alignment gaps

Day 2: Strategy & Action

  • Identifying blind spots and building inclusive practices

  • Project Planning: Design a high-impact initiative with your map as a guide

  • Final Share: Present and refine collaborative projects and strategies

Key Takeaways

  • Community Map: A personalized visual tool showing your community’s key players, relationships, and power dynamics—designed for strategy and communication.

  • Project Blueprint: An actionable, cross-sector initiative plan tailored to your organization or issue area.

  • Collaboration Toolkit: Skills and frameworks to guide inclusive, trust-based collaboration far beyond the workshop.

Skills Developed

  • Collaborative Leadership: Foster alignment among diverse stakeholders

  • Strategic Communication: Facilitate cross-sector dialogue with clarity and empathy

  • Systems Thinking: See beyond silos and connect initiatives to broader change

  • Civic Creativity: Design solutions that reflect the complexity of real communities

Workshop Facilitator

Bob Schlehuber is a peacebuilder, artist, and organizer with over 20 years of experience designing collaborative projects across schools, cities, nonprofits, and global movements. His signature approach blends civic strategy with creativity—through participatory art, concerts, public dialogue, and coalition-building efforts.

Bob holds an M.A. in International Peace & Conflict Resolution (American University) and a B.A. in Communication & Political Science (University of Illinois). As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine and founder of Peacebuilding Connections, Bob’s work has engaged thousands worldwide and earned him the Innovation in the Arts Award from the Rockford Area Arts Council.