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Starting soon!
The Era of Relational Intelligence: An SSIR Author Conversation Isabelle Hau, Executive Director, Stanford Accelerator for Learning Mitchell Stevens, SSIR Academic Editor Monday, March 9, 2026 12 PM Pacific/3 PM Eastern
Live today at 12 PT/3pm ET: We talk w/ Isabelle Hau about her new cover story on human flourishing in the AI age, designing for human connection, and relational intelligence (RQ).
Registration and article links in thread.
The Era of Relational Intelligence An SSIR Author Conversation Isabelle Hau, Executive Director, Stanford Accelerator for Learning Mitchell Stevens, SSIR Academic Editor Monday, March 9, 2026 12 PM Pacific/3 PM Eastern
Building relational infrastructure is a requirement for human flourishing in the age of AI.
SSIR’s new academic editor Mitchell Stevens speaks with Isabelle Hau about her forthcoming SSIR story, “Welcome to the Era of Relational Intelligence.”
Monday, March 9: stanford.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Many organizations orient toward avoiding complaints, lawsuits, and regulatory scrutiny, but in doing so, they miss opportunities to surface and correct problems early through systems that build employees’ trust.
"The issue is not that the model is inherently misguided, but rather that it has bred a moral monoculture that equates 'doing good' with 'getting to scale' and 'maximizing impact.'
The problem is that, as with any monoculture, it’s brittle when conditions change and susceptible to shocks."
ICYMI: The latest issue of @ssir.org highlights the TRECC program, funded by the Jacobs Foundation, and how it has helped governments pilot and scale approaches for improving education access and quality in Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮
Read more 🔗 ssir.org/articles/ent...
#FoundationalLearning #SystemsChange
FRIDAY READ: "THIS IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE"
the recent @ssir.org has a special supplement on a love-centered #transformation for #communities. My favorite is this piece from author Shanell Keene. "But when #love becomes the guiding star of #policy, the chasms shrink..."
ssir.org/articles/ent...
"Engage more in the arts.
It’s a deceptively simple recommendation, and probably one of the most enjoyable pieces of advice you could be given. But it’s one we rarely follow. Go outside and start asking US adults whether they did any arts yesterday, and 95 percent of them will say no."
What role have you seen social sector organizations and leaders playing?
"Locally, I think they’re the ones making it happen. Nationally? I think it’s more of a mixed bag..."
Read the entire interview with social movements expert Joe McCannon in yesterday's SSIR newsletter:
Screenshot with text: What is most striking to you about the massive actions we’ve seen in Minneapolis and elsewhere in response to ICE? With the caveat that I haven’t been on the ground in Minneapolis—and there’s no replacement for that perspective—I’ve been most struck by the activists’ courage and persistence. Despite these appalling killings and increasing intimidation, this movement is growing, not retreating. This shows real conviction because they’re up against something truly scary; these are armed forces that have been told by White House officials that they’re above the law. Standing up to that peacefully inspires others to do the same, and we need as much of that as possible across the country right now. Courage builds courage.
This week's SSIR newsletter includes an interview with Joe McCannon, an expert on social change movements and campaigns, about what's happening in Minneapolis:
Joe is the author of this 2025 article, on how the social sector should understand and utilize mass mobilization tactics:
"The social sector should better understand the potential and risks associated with these approaches and learn how they can be harnessed to advance justice and agency..."
Read the full interview here, and subscribe to receive future newsletter-exclusive features like this one.
Screenshot with text: What is most striking to you about the massive actions we’ve seen in Minneapolis and elsewhere in response to ICE? With the caveat that I haven’t been on the ground in Minneapolis—and there’s no replacement for that perspective—I’ve been most struck by the activists’ courage and persistence. Despite these appalling killings and increasing intimidation, this movement is growing, not retreating. This shows real conviction because they’re up against something truly scary; these are armed forces that have been told by White House officials that they’re above the law. Standing up to that peacefully inspires others to do the same, and we need as much of that as possible across the country right now. Courage builds courage.
This week's SSIR newsletter includes an interview with Joe McCannon, an expert on social change movements and campaigns, about what's happening in Minneapolis:
"Abundance and justice aren't mutually exclusive." Dr. Tiffany Manuel makes the case for equitable housing, including calling for Housing for All, Housing Justice, and Housing Abundance. Read more https://ssir.org/articles/entry/narrative-change-equitable-housing
Is low-cost AI an illusion?
As AI shifts from experimental tool to core infrastructure, its underlying economics such as energy, hardware, privacy, and market power are beginning to assert themselves.
That will have serious consequences for equity, public interest work, and organizations:
Drawing on decades of global experience, Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO of @packardfdn.bsky.social and Stanford PACS Advisory Board Member, outlines why and how funders should invest in #CivilSociety as the cornerstone of #democracy.
Read on our #Philanthropy Innovation Summit blog ⤵️
In recent years, 3 major narrative movements have pushed the housing debate:
- Housing for All
- Housing Justice
- Housing Abundance
Each has distinct origins, strategies, and contributions, and each has sought to reframe housing as a collective good, a moral imperative, or a policy necessity.
"When policy makers and researchers focus solely on financial returns, they risk undervaluing education’s profound influence on personal empowerment, social equity, and collective well-being..."
This really put words to what so many nonprofits are feeling right now. The uncertainty is just as challenging as the funding itself. I appreciate the reminder that survival can’t come from cutting alone—it has to come from innovation, collaboration, and building real financial resilience. The SDA examples show that when strategy and mission stay aligned, it’s possible to adapt without losing purpose. SDA is helping more biz, the reason I’m following this on all socials as it inspires me!
What one commenter says about this article:
Three strategies for nonprofit organizations to help them survive through funding disruption and uncertainty:
📈 Innovate to grow
🤝 Strategic partnerships
🏘️ Invest in assets
“Purpose before organization: prioritizing the organization's purpose, versus the organization itself.”
ssir.org/articles/ent...
"Data is never neutral or objective. Data systems are designed by people working within institutions, and when those institutions are built on structural racism, patriarchy, and other systems of oppression, the data they produce will reflect and reinforce those same inequities."
🎉Our new piece on Iterative A/B Testing is out in @ssir.org
with @noamangrist.bsky.social @mandabeat.bsky.social & Tendekai Mukoyi.
A case & toolkit for rigorous, rapid, and regular testing to improve cost-effectiveness at scale👇
💡 ssir.org/articles/ent...
🛠️ www.youth-impact.org/insights/a-b...
📣 Passionate about closing the gap between evidence and day-to-day implementation? Check out our new article "Iterative A/B testing for Social Impact: Rigorous, Rapid, and Regular" now out in @ssir.org w/ @mandabeat.bsky.social @ccullen.bsky.social Tendekai Mukoyi
ssir.org/articles/ent...
Sowing Backlash, One DEI Training at a Time ssir.org/books/excerp... - Lily Zheng, @ssir.org
Many nonprofits in LMICs face a critical mismatch: urgent social problems demand rapid program iteration, yet organizations often wait years for externally-produced evaluation results.
When they do conduct rigorous evaluations, one-off studies rarely keep pace with evolving implementation contexts.
