Become a POLICY PARTNER
Let's Connect for Impact!Impact requires decisions to be made with an equity focus. Why this is important.
Data show historic, persistent, and inequitable outcomes across most indicators for under-invested communities and people of color. These outcomes are caused and sustained by inequitable policies, most of which are developed without intending to cause such outcomes. Policies can either create barriers or remove barriers to residents participating fully in community life. For example, if barriers were removed and all its residents could fully participate in society, Pinellas County, Florida’s economy would increase by $3.6 Billion [Unite Pinellas, Pinellas County Equity Profile (2019)] and the Tampa Bay regional economy would increase by $50 Billion. [Tampa Bay Partnership, Regional Equity Report (2020)]. Increasing opportunity and creating equity for our most vulnerable populations increases well-being for all.
With the change in population demographics nationally and locally, an intentional focus on well-being for all becomes paramount. It is projected that the white population will no longer be the majority nationally in 2044 and in Pinellas County in 2050. An intentional focus on equitable policies to drive social and economic well-being will determine the future success and prosperity of each city, county, and state.
Policy Partners works with public and private organizations to close equity gaps and improve community well-being. We help with strategy, policy and practice review, information gathering, and provide a bridge to connect organizations and community efforts to create opportunities to solve equity issues. No matter where you are in your equity policy journey, whether ready to engage with community or wanting an initial analysis, Policy Partners can help.
What is Policy?
"Policy" refers to any decision, big or small, which impacts community life. Most people think of policy as laws and regulations. These are important policies which can lead to substantial community impact. However, policy involves so much more. Policy encompasses how laws and regulations are implemented, how funding is invested, decision-making processes involved in creating policy, and even who creates policy. If you are interested in intentionally, equitably, positively, and sustainably impacting community life, these decisions are the foundation.
What is Equity?
“Equity” denotes full inclusion of all residents in the economic, social, and political life of a community, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, neighborhood of residence, or other characteristics. Equity is essential for sustained prosperity. Reducing inequity is associated with more stable economies, more capacity to rebound from economic downturns, growth in overall academic performance, increased life expectancy, reduced infant mortality, and increased civic participation.
About POLICY PARTNERS
Our Mission
Policy Partners is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to make policy-making more informed, equitable, and inclusive by building collaborative partnership capacity with decision makers and impacted communities to shape and implement equitable policies and practices.
Principles
Decision makers want to make a positive difference and residents want to meaningfully participate in the decision-making process. The most equitable and powerful policies occur when shaped together with those impacted by the policy, using data, research, strategic frameworks, and innovative best practices. Working together as a “we” instead of as an “us/them” results in sustained solutions to the root causes of poor outcomes for our neighbors.
Why Policy Partners
Embarking on the equitable policy/decision-making path is uncomfortable and vulnerable work. It requires a safe space to learn and explore without fear of blame or shame. It requires meaningful engagement and true partnership with residents impacted by policies. It requires efficient access to data, research, and information. Policy Partners provides all of this as well as ongoing support to actualize a sustainable and equitably changed community life.
Connect for Impact
What We OfferConnect the Dots
- Policy and practice audit and analysis to identify areas to achieve more equitable outcomes
- Strategic planning to drive policy and investment decisions for equitable impact
- Implementation planning and support
- Consultation for internal team capacity building for equity work
- Support organizational leadership in change management processes
Connect with Data and Research
- Data gathering and analysis to drive decision-making
- Research summaries of initiatives in other jurisdictions
- Evaluation to monitor equitable impact
- Identify best practices and lessons learned to expedite implementation and impact
Connect with Context Experts
- Impacted community members are context experts
- Meaningfully engage with context experts to analyze policy and practices
- Meaningfully engage with context experts to develop and shape equitable policy and practices
- Meaningfully engage with context experts to identify and develop community metrics for change
Connect with Other Initiatives and Efforts
- Identify existing initiatives and efforts that align with organizational mission
- Connect with other initiatives and efforts to drive collective action and maximize equitable impact
- Strategy alignment across initiatives and efforts
- Connect with other individuals and organizations working to advance equity and improve community life for all
What to Expect
When You Become a Partner- An encouraging, nonjudgmental environment to explore information and possibilities
- Initial consultation meeting to explore your needs and goals
- Proposed action plan with timeline to address your needs and goals
- Implementation support
- Periodic progress reports
Meet Our Team
Roxanne Fixsen
Co-Executive DirectorRoxanne is a proven leader with a far-reaching professional background including legal, nonprofit, philanthropy, and government. Roxanne practiced law for eleven years as a business litigator and prior to that, she worked for fifteen years with children and families involved in the foster care system. She was the chief operating officer for a $30 million nonprofit agency responsible for the first district-wide privatization of foster care. She was responsible for implementation of a system of care created by community. Roxanne was a senior executive at a private foundation working on policy and advocacy initiatives to close the racial equity gap in Pinellas County. She worked temporarily in city government to develop and implement strategic initiatives to support the vision of the incoming mayoral administration. In addition to a juris doctorate degree, Roxanne earned a Master’s degree in counseling and Bachelor’s degree in psychology. Roxanne is a systems thinker who believes that equitable systemic solutions are developed through meaningful engagement with those closest to the issues. She believes that setting a table of "we" brings the positive and creative energy necessary for innovative, equitable, and sustained solutions for long-term change in the lives of our citizens.
CARRIE Y. HEPBURN-BROWN
Co-Executive DirectorCarrie is a collaborative leader with experience in public health, government, nonprofits, and philanthropy. She is committed to advancing collective action, social change, and racial equity. Her professional experience includes expanding and supporting a national network to improve oral health access and outcomes, managing a local multi-county nonprofit focused on improving community health and wellness, leading an interdisciplinary team as the project director for a large multi-year federal maternal and child health grant program, engaging community members in addressing identified challenges, coordinating a countywide coalition to address teen pregnancy, implementing youth development programs, and working as a business consultant for a worldwide management and consulting firm. Carrie earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry/Molecular Biology. She is skilled in strategic planning, meeting design, program development, coalition building, and community engagement. Carrie is a master facilitator and analytical thinker who executes strategies to help build stronger communities and create a more equitable world.