Partnership Work

About Partnership Work

With isolation and division on the rise, what does it take to get people working together? In this podcast, we explore the art and science of collaboration. Host Paul Kuttner talks with connectors, conveners, and bridge builders — people who have dedicated themselves to breaking down the walls that divide us and moving people toward action.

Publisher

Paul Kuttner

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Nov 2024

Latest episode

16 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Jul 2026

   Partnership is Our North Star: Family-School Partnerships with Dr. Karen Mapp

   When you were growing up, how connected were your family and your school? Did your family feel welcome at school? Did your family and your teachers make decisions about your education together? The answers to those questions may have had a real impact on your experience. Today I talk with Dr. Karen Mapp, who has been studying and teaching about family-school partnerships for more than 25 years. She is a Professor of Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the author or co-author of several books including Powerful Partnerships: A Teacher’s Guide to Engaging Families for Student Success. Her Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships is used by school districts across the country. She spends much of her time training teachers, administrators, and district leaders about how to partner equitably with families. Karen was one of the mentors who set me on the path to partnership work. In our conversation, Karen explains what schools that excel at family engagement do differently—and the results it can have for students. She shares how her own family supported her education and why that was so critical to her success. We also talk about this political moment, why teachers receive so little training in engaging families effectively, the deep-seated biases that get in the way, and some hot-off-the-press research. The report Karen discusses in the episode is The Engagement Advantage: Findings from a Mixed-Methods Study on Family-School Partnerships by Dr. Eyal Bergman and Dr. Zenzile Riddick Here are some other great reads from Karen and her Co-Authors: Powerful Partnerships: A Teacher's Guide to Engaging Families for Student Success, by By Karen L. Mapp, Ilene Carver, and Jessica Lander. The Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School Partnerships Embracing a New Normal: Toward a More Liberatory Approach to Family Engagement, by Karen L. Mapp and Eyal Bergman Everyone Wins!: The Evidence for Family-School Partnerships and Implications for Practice, by by Karen L. Mapp Anne Henderson, Stephany Cuevas, Martha Franco, and Suzanna Ewert —————————- If you like this show, you can hear all the episodes and more at https://partnershipwork.org You can also join our free Substack newsletter at https://partnershipwork.substack.com/ Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for this episode was Hazy Reflections from the NFL Music Library on APM Music.

2. 

   5 May 2026

   Building Higher Education's "Trust Infrastructure" with Bobbie Laur

   In this episode Paul Kuttner speaks with Bobbie Laur, President of Campus Compact, about the political attacks on higher education and the growing loss of public confidence. Laur argues that community engagement — partnerships between communities and higher ed institutions — can serve as a "trust infrastructure." Community engagement helps to rebuild public faith in colleges and universities by addressing pressing societal challenges. Paul and Bobbie discuss the valid concerns driving this loss of confidence (cost, access, inequality), Bobbie's journey into partnership work, examples of campuses integrating community engagement across the institution, and Compact's new federal advocacy efforts. Read Bobbie's article, A Higher Education Compact in Action Learn more about Campus Compact and their many initiatives at https://compact.org ---------------------------- If you like this show, you can hear all the episodes and more at https://partnershipwork.org You can also join our free Substack newsletter at https://partnershipwork.substack.com/ Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for this episode was Hazy Reflections from the NFL Music Library on APM Music.

3. 

   9 Mar 2026

   Bridging Urban-Rural Divides with Joseph Bubman

   After the 2016 presidential election, and the deep divisions in American society that it highlighted, there was a boom in efforts to build bridges and facilitate dialogue between people of different backgrounds and political beliefs. Today's guest was similarly inspired, but the approach he took was a bit different than most. Joseph Bubman spent years doing peacebuilding and conflict resolution work around the world, and in 2016 he asked what it would look like to use some of those successful peacebuilding practices here at home. This led him and his colleagues to launch Urban Rural Action. They started by focusing on bringing together urban and rural communities, but the work quickly expanded to address the many ways that we are divided by race, religion, age, class, politics, and geography. In this conversation, Joe talks with host Paul Kuttner about his experiences abroad and the lessons he carries with him from that time. He describes how he began translating peacebuilding practices to the US context, and the limitations of initiatives that focus only on dialogue, without also creating opportunities to build capacity and take action. Joe tells the story of his organization’s evolution, from early experiments into a what is now a network of local hubs across the country. And he shares some concrete tools and frameworks he’s picked up along his journey. Learn more about Urban Rural Action at https://www.uraction.org/ Read about the work Mercy Corps does around the world at https://www.mercycorps.org Joe was inspired early in his career by the books Beyond Machiavelli by Roger Fisher and Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen. Read a summary of intergroup contact theory at Simply Psychology. Visit Braver Angels (formerly Better Angels) at https://braverangels.org/ ———————— To subscribe to this podcast, visit https://partnershipwork.org or your favorite podcasting platform. You can also join our free Substack newsletter at https://partnershipwork.substack.com/ Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for this episode was Hazy Reflections from the NFL Music Library on APM Music.

4. 

   5 Feb 2026

   Won't You Be My Neighbor? University Partnerships with Jamilah Ducar

   In this episode, host Paul Kuttner talks with Dr. Jamilah Ducar, Associate Vice Chancellor for Engagement and Community Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, about what it means for a university to be a good partner with its surrounding community. They explore Pitt’s listening-first approach to partnership, strategies for building (and rebuilding trust), and the everyday work of centering relationships. Jamie shares concrete examples of community development and educational partnerships, illustrating how universities can align faculty, staff, and operations to support neighborhoods. They also discuss the skills and organizational architecture needed for effective community engagement. And Jamie shares a bit about her journey into this work, from early family life, to the service industry, to human services, to higher ed. For more about the University of Pittsburgh's approach to community engagement visit https://www.community.pitt.edu/ To hear Jamie talking about her dissertation research, check out this video. Read The Community Engagement Professional in Higher Education and its companion the Community Engagement Professional's Guidebook: ———————— To subscribe to this podcast, visit https://partnershipwork.org or subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for this episode was Hazy Reflections from the NFL Music Library on APM Music.

5. 

   24 Nov 2025

   Remixing Research with Judy Pryor-Ramirez

   Join Paul Kuttner as he sits down with Judy Pryor-Ramirez to trace her journey as a community-based, participatory action researcher. From playful beach-themed data labs to virtual story circles, Judy shares a vision of research that shifts power, builds community, and sparks action. Judy is a Clinical Associate Professor of Public Service at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where she studies and teaches about social justice leadership. Judy is also a consultant, partnering with social justice leaders to facilitate transformation for their teams, organizations, and networks. Her career has spanned government, nonprofits, and higher education. To find out more about Judy you can visit her website: https://www.judypryorramirez.com To learn more about the Story Circle Interview Method, check out Judy's chapter in the book Anti-colonial research praxis: Methods for knowledge justice. For some history on story circles, Judy recommends checking out Lizzy Cooper Davis's chapter, The Free Southern Theater's Story Circle Process. Learn more about the national network Judy talks about, Imagining America For more information about critical and community-based participatory action research, Judy recommends some of her teachers at the Public Science Project. ———————— To subscribe to this podcast, visit https://partnershipwork.org or subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for Partnership Work is Revolution, composed by John August Pregler and Bernard James Perry II.

6. 

   6 Oct 2025

   Opportunity and Belonging with Ze Min Xiao

   In this episode, host Paul Kuttner talks with Ze Min Xiao, President and CEO of The Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging in Utah. Ze founded the center just a few years ago, with the goal of building “a Utah where everyone can thrive and belong.” As you’ll hear, that means bringing community leaders and organizations together with highest levels of state government, businesses, nonprofits, and funders to tackle economic and educational disparities. Ze shares how her family, and her many years working in immigrant and refugee services, shaped her belief in putting community wisdom first. She talks about what it takes to build partnerships across lines of faith and political party in deep-red Utah, even on major political lightning rods like immigration. She opens up about the emotional toll this work can take, and where she finds resilience and hope when things are at their bleakest. Ze doesn’t hold back in her assessment of where things stand right now. But she leaves us with what she says good leaders offer us: a future vision we can work toward together. Visit Ze's organization at belonginutah.org Learn about Team Democracy's river rafting project at raftforamerica.org ———————— To subscribe to this podcast, visit https://partnershipwork.org or subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for Partnership Work is Revolution, composed by John August Pregler and Bernard James Perry II.

7. 

   28 Jul 2025

   Redefining School Leadership with Ann Ishimaru

   When we think of school leaders, we usually picture principals, superintendents, maybe the school board. My guest today says that that idea of leadership is far too narrow. The leaders we need if we're going to make schools work for all students are not just the ones with formal titles and degrees – they’re also parents and students, teachers and community members. In this vision of leadership, the role of a principal or district leader is not to figure things out by themselves but instead to work with folks from all these groups to create solutions together. In other words, educational leadership is a kind of partnership work. Today I’m sharing my interview with Ann Ishimaru. Ann is a professor at the University of Washington College of Education, and a prominent scholar of educational leadership. But she is definitely not your typical professor. She spends a lot of her time out in the schools, partnering with principals, collaborating with families. She's a former science teacher and organizer, a mother, and co-founder of cultural organization based around the art of traditional Japanese drumming, or Taiko. Ann offers a vision of leadership as a collective effort. She describes what it looks like when families and educators become “co-designers” of education initiatives. And she dives into her most recent book, edited with her colleague Dr. Decoteau Irby, which explores how a new crop of district leaders across the country have been working to build equity into our school systems. Find Dr. Ishimaru and Dr. Irby's book, Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change at Teachers College Press Learn more about Ann's work with the Family Leadership Design Collaborative at https://familydesigncollab.org/ ———————— To subscribe to this podcast, visit https://partnershipwork.org or subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for Partnership Work is Revolution, composed by John August Pregler and Bernard James Perry II.

8. 

   13 May 2025

   Organizational Healing: A Conversation with Ora Grodsky

   In this episode of Partnership Work, host Paul Kuttner dives into the complexities of social justice organizations with Ora Grodsky, co-founder of Just Works Consulting. Ora shares insights from her new book Justice, Love, and Organizational Healing. She discusses how both individuals and organizations heal, and how personal health impacts collective well-being. Listeners will gain an understanding of how conflict can act as a catalyst for growth and transformation, and how listening across power divides can help foster authentic collaboration. Ora also touches on her personal journey and the influences that shaped her career. To learn more about Ora and her work visit Just Works Consulting at https://www.just-works.com/ Check out Ora's new book, Justice, Love, and Organizational Healing: A Guide to Transformational Consulting, at https://www.just-works.com/resources/justice-love-and-organizational-healing/ ------------------------ To subscribe to this podcast, visit https://partnershipwork.podbean.com/ or subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for Partnership Work is Revolution, composed by John August Pregler and Bernard James Perry II.

9. 

   11 Mar 2025

   Community Coalitions: A Conversation with Chioma Nnaji

   In this episode of Partnership Work, host Paul Kuttner dives into the world of community coalitions with Chioma Nnaji, Senior Program Director at the Multicultural AIDS Coalition. Chioma shares her journey from working in healthcare management to organizing African diaspora communities around public health. They discuss the the process of bringing folks to the table, the significance of identity and culture, and the power of stepping back so the community can lead. Join Paul and Chioma as they explore how to overcome challenges and sustain coalitions for lasting social change. To learn more about Chioma Nnaji read her bio here. To learn more about the Multicultural AIDS Coalition, visit their website at https://www.mac-boston.org/ Read about Chioma's facilitation business, Ochoa Transformations, at https://ochatransformations.com/ For more advice on building and maintaining community coalitions, check out this resources from Community Tool Box. If you want to know what Theatre of the Oppressed is, visit Toplab at http://www.toplab.org/ ------------------------ To subscribe to this podcast, visit https://partnershipwork.podbean.com/ or subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for Partnership Work is Revolution, composed by John August Pregler and Bernard James Perry II.

10. 

    3 Feb 2025

    Building Bridges: A Conversation with Jennifer Mayer-Glenn

    Welcome to the inaugural episode of Partnership Work, a podcast about the art and science of collaboration. On this episode, host Paul Kuttner chats with Jennifer Mayer-Glenn, Director of University Neighborhood Partners at the University of Utah. Jennifer discusses her work in the K-12 public school system, where she championed partnerships between families and schools, and her transition to higher education, where she's been leading a community-university partnership aimed at establishing a new hospital. Paul and Jennifer delve into her personal history, discussing the formative influences of her family and early experiences as well as nuggets of wisdom she’s picked over the course of her career. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the important role of 'place' in collaboration, the balance between structured processes and organic emergence, and how trust and relationship-building are pivotal in bridging divides between marginalized communities and systems. Join Paul and his guest as they uncover the 'method to this partnership madness.' Learn more about University Neighborhood Partners by visiting them at https://www.partners.utah.edu/ Jenny mentions seeing political theater troupe Teatro Campesino as a child. Learn about Teatro Campesino here: https://elteatrocampesino.com/our-history/ ------------------------ To subscribe to this podcast, visit https://partnershipwork.podbean.com/ or subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for Partnership Work is Revolution, composed by John August Pregler and Bernard James Perry II.

11. 

    15 Nov 2024

    Coming Soon: Partnership Work

    What does it take to reach across the walls that divide us and get people working together to improve our world? That's the question we'll be asking on Partnership Work. Join host Paul Kuttner as he investigates the art and science of collaboration, featuring conversations with connectors, conveners, and bridge builders. For more information, visit at https://partnershipwork.podbean.com/ or subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. Partnership Work is an independent podcast, produced with the support of Urban Media Arts in Malden, MA. Visit them at https://urbanmediaarts.org/ The music for Partnership Work is Revolution, composed by John August Pregler and Bernard James Perry II.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 15 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

17

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32