Policy & Practice June 2018

our do’ers profile

In Our Do’ers Profile, we highlight some of the hardworking and talented individuals in health and human services. This issue features Ron Clewer, Chief Operating Officer, Alliance for Strong Families and Communities.

Name: Ron Clewer Title: Chief Operating Officer, Alliance for Strong Families and Communities Years of Service: 10 years collectively in the field—1 year with the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. Prior to serving as COO of the Alliance, I was the CEO of an Alliance member organization focused on affordable housing and the intersection of housing and human services. Rewards of the Job: There are many rewards in my position, but to name just a few: ■ working with such great people within the Alliance who are driven to support our network, and through it, to assist children, families, and communities in achieving their greatest potential; ■ working closely with cross-sectorial leaders waged deep in systems change and, as a result, seeing the positive change in their communities; ■ co-creating the movement to eliminate barriers for organizations, individuals, children, families, and communities; ■ serving as a steward and catalyst within the Alliance to incubate, aggregate, and accelerate the best work within our network, focused on equity, to ensure all people have equitable access to opportunities and success as they see it. Accomplishments Most Proud Of: I believe that my life is a constant work in progress and that each moment, no matter how large or small, helps influence who I am and how I use my experiences to achieve goals. The accomplish- ment I ammost proud of is being where I am right now, specifically: ■ living a life centered in appreciative inquiry; ■ being joyful to love my wife and children for who they are, their independence, unique qualities, drive, and determination; ■ staying woke; ■ setting the bar within a public housing system to recog- nize housing as a platform for opportunity (i.e., health,

well-being, education, and economic mobility) and that the greatest assets within the system are its people, and; ■ the opportunity to work with our Alliance staff and network to focus on and advance equity. Future Challenges for the Delivery of Public Human Services: If I have to cite chal- lenges, I would say—adaptability and our ability to attract and retain entrepreneurial talent; however, I prefer to take a strengths-based approach to consider the opportunities within the health and human services delivery system. There are many, but I believe the greatest future potential for effective systems and meaningful services exists where we can achieve a generative ecosystem in which: ■ outcomes are essential; ■ assessment and improvement is continuous; ■ innovative and inclusive cultures are the norm; ■ we use human-centered design thinking AND approaches to co-create solutions for our communities’ toughest challenges; and ■ partnerships are essential assets. And while we hear revenues and expenses often cited, these are challenges of nearly every business and family, every day. If we can adapt for the opportunities above, I believe revenue and expense challenges will have far less of an effect on resources, and greater outcomes and impact will be achieved. Little Known Facts About Me: I am a total policy and regulatory wonk. Perhaps because I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up (at 52, I still haven’t grown up), I read the Federal Register and other U.S. and international regulatory documents to consider what is possible across systems and what is the opportunity within policy to drive innovative solutions. It’s cause for celebration when Housing Policy Debate , Policy and Practice , or Families in Society shows up on my desk! Outside Interests: Since I commute a distance, I listen to a great deal of books and podcasts with a focus on anything where I don’t have lived experience. My wife would say I need a hobby.

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