Sport for Good New Orleans Town Hall: Reflecting on 12 Years of Impact

On Monday, November 9th, Sport for Good New Orleans welcomed 20 coalition members and the MOVE Fund research team to The Columbia Parc Club House for a Town Hall. We gathered to ask and answer one big question. How did the Sport for Good New Orleans coalition change you, your organization, and the city as a whole?

The MOVE Fund research team facilitated the conversation using the Ripple Effect Mapping methodology. As a coalition, we spent the afternoon mapping how the work has rippled into our young people, programs, community, and as individuals. The research team included Meredith Whitley (Adelphi University), Julie McCleery (University of Washington), William Massey (University of Michigan), and Gareth Jones (Temple University).

What Happened

We began by reflecting on big and small moments shaping the impact of the coalition through 12 years of community work and sector leadership. Attendees interviewed each other in pairs, listening to their stories and considering the coalition’s influence on New Orleans and the development of the Sports Based Youth Development sector within the city. Afterwards, participants took time to identify personal, organizational, and community-level change that happened as a direct result of the coalition.

What We Learned

While there were many takeaways from our rich conversation, a few highlights to share:

1. The SfG New Orleans coalition is clear on its culture: caring, community-led, and grounded in collective impact.
2. The power of positive reflection, together. This was the first time the SfG New Orleans coalition was invited to share experiences and impact in this format over the last 12 years. Coalition members shared their appreciation of SfG New Orleans, it was palpable throughout the day.
3. The impact starts with trusting relationships. Coalition members have been deeply and personally impacted by the connecting and collaborative power of the work.
4. Coalition members have led and benefited from transformational work. Before SfG New Orleans, this movement didn’t have a shared name and wasn’t widely understood or valued by the systems of power in the city. Our work together has changed that.

What Comes Next

The MOVE Fund research team will take back notes and findings from the conversation and develop a share out for coalition members. Key takeaways from yesterday’s conversation will also be incorporated into the SfG New Orleans Legacy Report and into considerations around the coming transition.

As we wrapped up the day and identified common themes and throughlines, the room was full of energy and appreciation. Across the board, the takeaway was clear – New Orleans is a better place for young people to play sports and leaders to lead because of the dedication, care, and authentic leadership of SfG New Orleans.