Stories of Change
STORIES OF CHANGE
Driven by a vision of a more adaptive and thriving Northwest Lower Michigan, Rotary Charities of Traverse City is a committed partner to changemakers working to address complex problems and create lasting community assets.
In our region, challenges like homelessness, food insecurity, and declining mental health persist despite the efforts of strong nonprofits, government, philanthropy, and business. These problems are deeply interconnected, and deeply complex.
Stories of Change: How a Systems Change Approach is Transforming a Region explores what it takes to create long-term, systems-wide change. Through case studies and reflection questions, we share the stories of local changemakers working upstream to shift the conditions that hold problems in place.
Our Approach to Systems Change
For decades, charitable efforts have largely focused on alleviating symptoms. But to change the odds—not just help people beat them—we must address root causes. At Rotary Charities, that means supporting cross-sector collaboration, upstream strategies aimed at transforming complex systems, and ongoing learning.
Since 2014, we’ve been on a journey to adopt a systems change approach. It’s not always easy to define, and even harder to do, but we’ve learned a lot alongside the changemakers we support.
Inside the Stories: Tools, Insights, and Inspiration
Case Studies featuring local initiatives working on youth homelessness, food access, health equity, and our own evolution as a funder.
Practical Insights about how systems change really happens in community.
Discussion guides designed for funders, experienced practitioners, and those new to systems thinking.
Voices of Change
What does systems change really feel like on the ground? In this short video, 14 Northern Michigan changemakers share honest reflections about what it takes to shift systems—from the challenges they've faced, the insights they've gained, and the impact of their collaborative efforts to address complex community issues at their roots. It’s a glimpse into the heart of this work, offering inspiration and practical perspectives for anyone interested in transformative change.
Stories of Change: How a Systems Change Approach is Transforming a Region
The publication shares four in-depth case studies that show how systems change work is unfolding in Northern Michigan. One story highlights our own learning journey as a funder. The other three showcase community-led efforts that are shifting outcomes by changing how people collaborate and how systems function.
Rotary Charities: From Charity to Changemaker
How we embraced our role as a funder to support long-term systems change through learning, collaboration, and adaptation.
Ending Youth Homelessness in Northwest Michigan
How a network of partners centered youth voice to build trust, shift power, and change how the system responds to homelessness.
Securing Healthy Food Access in Northwest Michigan
How a cross-sector partnership mapped the food system and adapted in real-time to meet local needs during a global crisis.
Improving Health and Health Equity in Northern Michigan
How a regional initiative built shared purpose, adapted structures, and aligned efforts to improve health outcomes for all.
Bring These Stories Into Your Work
These tailored discussion guides are designed to help you reflect on your own work or spark meaningful conversations in your organization.
Discussion Guide for New Practitioners
An entry point for those new to systems change.
Use it to reflect or spark group discussion with help from the stories.
Discussion Guide for Experienced Practitioners
For those already working on collaborative systems change.
Explore your initiative’s structure, strategy, and relationships.
Discussion Guide for Funders
Designed for grantmakers shifting toward systems change.
Reflect on your role and how to better support long-term impact.
Acknowledgements
- About the Author
We want to thank storyteller Jessica Conrad for expertly leading this project. Jessica handled each story with care and dedication—careful with its complexity, shared language, and multiple perspectives. Her process embodied values like patience, relationship building and trust, clear communication and roles, and inclusivity, reflecting a deep grounding in systems practice.
Jessica currently supports purpose-driven people and organizations in a consulting capacity with research and writing, coaching, facilitation, and custom offerings in the realms of leadership, storytelling and communications, organizational learning and development, and program design. You can reach her at hello@jessicaconrad.com.
- Contributors
We want to thank everyone who contributed in many ways to Stories of Change, including:
Sally Bancroft of Bancroft Graphics for designing the report.
Tina Allen, Maureen Clore, Tara DeGroot, Ari Elaine, David Van Horn, and Ashley Halladay-Schmandt representing the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness.
Christina Barkel, Mary Clulo, Jan Delatorre, Meghan McDermott, Taylor Moore, Val Stone, Sammye Stroh, Lisa Tanner, Kris Thomas, and Anneke Wegman representing the Healthy Food Access Partnership.
Erin Barrett, Sarah Eichberger, Rose Fosdick, Sara Johnson, Emily Llore, Paula Martin, Jenifer Murray, and Jane Sundmacher representing the Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region.
Lorraine Beers, Marlene Bevan, Freya Bradford, Becky Ewing, Kristin Hettich, Jeff Hickman, Kendra Luta, Greg Luyt, Homer Nye, Miriam Owsley, Marsha Smith, and Sakura Takano representing Rotary Charities of Traverse City.
We are deeply grateful for your time, your perspectives, and your contributions to systems change in our region.
- Contact the Changemakers
Freya Bradford, FBradford@rotarycharities.org
Director of Systems Change & Learning, Rotary Charities of Traverse CityAshley Halladay-Schmandt, Ashley@endhomelessnessnmi.org
Director, Northwest Michigan Coalition to End HomelessnessEmily Llore, E.Llore@nwhealth.org
Director of Community Health Assessment and Improvement Planning, Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation RegionTaylor Moore, TaylorM@goodwillnmi.org
Manager, Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan