Organic & Intentional: A Study of Network Theory and Nonprofit Collaboration in the High Country

If there is one thing that I have learned throughout my collegiate experiences both on campus and in the community, it is that there is a unique, effectual power that comes from organizations and entities that pursue collaboration. In just the past few decades, the theories behind the concept of networks and their unique styles of governance have begun to be studied and analyzed more thoroughly. Through this research, it has become evident that there is indeed a distinct power in collaboration. This collaboration comes in all shapes, sizes and structures and to better understand those differences, I will be conducting a literature review on a selection of the most prominent research on the subjects of network theory, network governance and collaboration. In order to create a more comprehensive illustration of collaboration, I will be conducting a case study on the Greening My Plate event series that was created by a coalition of 21 individuals and nonprofit organizations. The Greening My Plate series is a month long event promoting local food and healthy eating within the community. It is in its second year so I will be conducting interviews with both previous and current participants to gauge the unique structure, operations, and relationships exhibited within the planning coalition. At the end of this paper, I hope to have created a benchmark analysis of what nonprofit collaboration looks like within a community based on modern networking theories.<p></p>