Coro conducts research to advance our mission of preparing individuals, groups, and communities for ethical and effective leadership.

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Moving Forward Together, Community Conversations Report

September 2007

This report by the Coro Center for Civic Leadership describes the accomplishments and next steps of an initiative to promote collaborative problem solving in the South Pittsburgh Hilltop neighborhoods of Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Knoxville, Mt. Oliver, Mt. Oliver Borough, and St. Clair. The report was created with documentation from interviews, surveys, notes from community meetings, and a Community Conversation organized by Coro on July 21, 2007.

Group Facilitation for Nonprofit Leaders

Gregory J. Crowley

September 2007

More and more nonprofits are adopting a facilitative style of leadership, which focuses on engaging diverse people in sharing resources that can advance collective goals. This guide introduces four methods of group facilitation that nonprofits can use to engage volunteers, staff, board, and community members in planning for the future. The Coro Center created the guide based on a review of group facilitation literature, interviews with facilitators of the various methods, and participation in facilitated dialogues hosted by the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University.

Why Trust Matters to Nonprofits

Gregory J. Crowley

January 2006

This paper was written for the Nexus Community Dialogues, hosted by the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. It reviews recent research on the topic of trust as it relates to nonprofit organizations. Two kinds of trust relevant to nonprofits are identified, trust in nonprofits and trust in people. The paper focuses on the link between trust in people and nonprofit giving and volunteering, because this important topic has yet to gain the attention of nonprofit executives. Trust in people has been declining steadily in the United States for the past 40 years. The paper explores possible reasons for this and suggests what might be required to rebuild trust.

The Politics of Place: Contentious Urban Redevelopment in Pittsburgh
Book by Gregory J. Crowley
November 2005

The Politics of Place explores five case studies of neighborhood opposition to large-scale urban redevelopment in the context of long-term economic restructuring in Pittsburgh. The author describes a model for understanding why conflicts in redevelopment occur and how some opposition movements succeed while others fail at providing challengers a strong voice in redevelopment planning. For a full description, reviews and to purchase the book, click here.

Nonprofits and Civic Engagement:  Benefits and Challenges in Building Social Capital
Gregory J. Crowley
August 2005

This paper is a revised and expanded version of a working paper presented at the 2005 Nonprofit Summit, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its purpose is to initiate a dialogue and to stimulate further research about the effectiveness of nonprofits in strengthening civic engagement and producing social capital. Social capital is a potential indirect benefit created by nonprofits that is not emphasized in existing research on nonprofits in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Experience: Employers & Internships
Kelleigh Butler
July 2004

This report provides a detailed analysis into SWPA employers perceptions and experiences with internships. A random sample of 500 employers were interviewed via telephone; 100 interviews in each of the following industry clusters: financial services, healthcare, hospitality/tourism, information technology, and manufacturing.

How Representative are Allegheny County’s Non-elected Public Officials? A Demographic Breakdown of Authorities, Boards and Commissions
Kelleigh Butler
April 2004

This report presents survey findings from 43 authorities, boards, and commissions listed on the Allegheny County website on demographic information including race, gender and age.

Regional Internship Center: Student Internship Survey
Kate Trimble
February 2004

This report provides a close look at approximately 4,000 students perceptions and experiences with internships from 27 schools in the Pittsburgh region. The report also looks at the quality of the experience, the compensation provided, the location where students take and would take internships, and implications from the survey.

College and University Students in the Pittsburgh Region: A 14-County Snapshot
Kate Trimble
January 2004

A brief snapshot of the vast student population here in the Pittsburgh region including student enrollment numbers, students' state of origin, and the most popular majors and degrees.

Young People in Politics: Age Diversity in Allegheny County’s Elected Officials, 2002
Kate Trimble
April 2003

This research brief takes a look at the age diversity of more than 1,300 elected officials in Allegheny County and particularly examines elected officials aged 40 and under.

Young People in the Pittsburgh Region: A Data Snapshot from the 2000 Census
Kate Trimble
April 2003

In order to inform the regional talent attraction and retention conversation, this research brief offers a more detailed demographic picture of the young people who already call the Pittsburgh region home.