Newsletters

October 2020 A Resilient Future Depends on What We Do Now

Though this moment in our country’s history is exhausting, FFI knows that now isn’t the time to settle for incremental change. In order to muster the strength to move forward, we have to start looking at things differently. Our October 2020 Newsletter is an update on the steps FFI is taking to work towards a complete transformation of the structures our country runs on.

June 2020 What if Our Country Were Built on Wellbeing, Not Racism?

FFI believes that ending racism and other forms of oppression in our country depends on a broad and deep recognition that we all share a universal drive to wellbeing, we all have a right to wellbeing and we all deserve a fair shot at wellbeing. In our June 2020 Newsletter, we look for paths forward built on equity, justice and wellbeing.

April 2020 We Need Wellbeing to be Well as a Country

March 2020 A Full Frame Response to COVID-19

A Wellbeing Orientation is vital for helping people and communities cope with disruption. Some initial guidance is featured in our March 2020 newsletter. In the days to come, we will roll out a deeper dive into a Wellbeing Orientation in times of crisis.

October 2019 Beyond a Simple Narrative: Seeing People in the Full Frame of Their Life

To see someone in the full frame of their life can be a political act, in that it forces the separation of the person facing the social problems from the genesis of those problems: the racism, sexism and other “-isms” baked into our systems. In a time of simple narratives and a rush to snap judgments, seeing people in the full frame can be an act of defiance that helps us all chart new ways forward.  This issue of the FFI newsletter brings together voices from the field, thoughts from FFI’s outgoing Director of Healthcare Transformation on the importance of wellbeing to our healthcare system, and more to explore how a wellbeing orientation challenges us to put down our simple narratives of difference and deviance and to instead view people in the full frame of their life.

July 2019  When it comes to wellbeing, context matters

A key principle of a wellbeing orientation is that context matters. Yet we all constantly downplay the role of context in shaping choices and trajectories for other people. This bias––known by psychologists as the fundamental attribution error––has embedded itself in interventions, too. Indeed, systems, programs and society as a whole put the burden on individuals to make and sustain change without taking into account the importance of place, culture and history. A wellbeing orientation embraces that we aren’t separate from our environment. In this issue of our newsletter, we’re highlighting not only how context has shaped FFI’s first decade, but how it shapes everyone’s health, educational outcomes and more.

March 2019  The power of hope, our vision for change

Spring is a season that evokes a feeling of renewal, new beginnings and hope. We know that hope is important in our lives, and a wellbeing orientation creates hope for people, communities and our country. The stories highlighted in this newsletter show why hope is much more than a “nice to have.” We also have exciting opportunities for visionary allies to invest in FFI and announce an upcoming webinar hosted by our Founder and CEO on the transformational power of a wellbeing orientation!

January 2019  These Communities Are Shifting Perspectives to Improve Families’ Wellbeing

New York Times columnist David Bornstein wrote a two-part series featuring our Five Domains of Wellbeing, as well as our work with partners in Missouri and Massachusetts! In this issue, we are thrilled to share The New York Times pieces and a few other stories that show how dominant stereotypes are being challenged by various communities around the country to bring about long-term wellbeing for individuals and families.

November 2018 Is America ready to flip the narrative?

During the midterm elections, voters showed up at the polls in record numbers and elected more women, people of color, and folks from other traditionally marginalized communities to Congress. Voters used the power of the ballot to enact measures to protect voting rights and stem the rise of gun violence. We’re sharing some pieces that highlight new perspectives on existing narratives that inspire us to expect the unexpected in the year ahead.

October 2018 Now is the time to remove barriers

Katya Fels Smyth, FFI’s founder and CEO, gives a brief update on what’s happening at FFI, and reminds us of the power that the ballot can have in reducing barriers to wellbeing for all people.

May 2018 What do our partnerships mean for people and families?

When systems and communities orient around wellbeing, we create possibilities for lasting change for people and families. Our spring newsletter highlights partnerships that are supporting families in sustaining positive change, focusing on wellbeing to increase equity and justice, and bringing a wellbeing orientation directly to the community. Hear from partners about what this change looks like from the inside and what that means for families, meet talented artist and youth ambassador Trey from our community-based collaboration in St. Louis, and see how the FFI team is growing and changing!

October 2017 From seeing people as “other” to seeing a universal drive for wellbeing

We are explicitly naming our work as social change. Through our work and with our partners we are removing the sense of “other” that breeds divisiveness and instead recognizing us all as people striving for a wellbeing. This work—and the real impact it has in systems, in communities, and for people and families—is essential to healing our country. Learn more about what this shift looks like in our fall newsletter, and read our latest blog from antiviolence activist and advocate Jennifer Rose, find new resources for increasing access to wellbeing and meet our new board members!

August 2017 Charlottesville: We must replace oppression with wellbeing and justice

Katya Fels Smyth, FFI’s Founder and CEO, responds to the violent acts of racism, hatred and bigotry in Charlottesville. Oppression makes it impossible for people to access wellbeing, but we can collectively build a country where everyone has equitable access to the ingredients of health and hope—by constantly responding to oppression, intimidation and racism with wellbeing and justice.

Summer 2017 What happens when we see people as their whole selves?

If we stop asking each other “what’s the matter with you?” and instead ask “what matters to you?,” we will find that we are all more alike than different and what matters to each of us is that we are seen as whole people whose wellbeing matters to others. Our summer newsletter features a few of our projects and partnerships that are demonstrating the power of seeing people as their whole selves and declaring that their wellbeing matters to us, and also includes a new blog post about inequity and the pursuit of the American Dream, and a welcome to our new team members!

November 2016 Why it’s time for a national right to wellbeing

A message from FFI’s Founder and CEO Katya Fels Smyth, offering a way forward through the divisiveness and intimidation that was highlighted by the election. Recognizing that we all have a right to wellbeing and building a movement that supports the access to and realization of this right for everyone is a collective responsibility, and a positive way forward in addressing violence and oppression.

Fall 2016 Two new resources for increasing access to wellbeing!

The work of increasing access to wellbeing for people, families and communities experiencing violence and oppression necessarily calls for partnership and collaboration. It takes people bringing their strengths, assets, tools and lived experiences to the table to address issues of inequity in our communities. This special newsletter focuses on new resources for those of you championing the right to wellbeing in your work.

Summer 2016 It is time for the world to change—how are you choosing to change it?

Recent events that seem to highlight the inequities in our systems and communities have given us pause to reflect on how the work of FFI and our partners is serving to stop the rain of oppression, hate and violence. Our summer newsletter illustrates what is happening with the growing energy around equitable access to wellbeing in systems, services and communities. Read it to learn about our wellbeing work in Missouri and California, check out our latest blog on social justice and evaluation, and meet our newest team members!

Winter 2016 We are learning from what’s going well to address what isn’t

Our first newsletter in 2016 highlights what happens when you start from what’s going well in order to support lasting community transformation. Read it to learn about our new toolkit for philanthropy, find exciting updates about the project in California, meet our newest superstar team members and more!

Fall 2015 Silo-busting for wellbeing

This newsletter showcases the ways in which our partners are breaking down silos, pushing beyond organizational boundaries and unleashing the potential for change, all to increase access to wellbeing for people living at the intersection of poverty, trauma, violence and oppression. Read it to learn more, catch our latest blog post, meet new faces and find out who’s spreading the word!

Summer 2015 Our partners are carrying the wellbeing banner

Find out about all the ways our partners are using the Five Domains of Wellbeing framework to make change happen in systems, programs and communities. Read it to learn more, catch our latest blog post, and meet our newest team member, plus other exciting updates!

Spring 2015 A mid-year resolution: Learn from what goes well

This issue celebrates the learnings we can all find in our work and communities by more closely examining success, not just dissecting mistakes or problems. We also announce two new open positions, highlight the outstanding work of our partners, and share our summer reading picks with you.

Winter 2015 Partnerships: Messy, fun, challenging—5 insights into making them more successful

Examine the fun, messy and challenging nature of partnerships in this newsletter, with insights from Katya Fels Smyth into fostering and sustaining successful partnerships. This issue also highlights some of the amazing work happening with and through FFI’s partnerships, and announces new resources and opportunities. Read it and let us know what you think!

Fall 2014 Starting from a different place

This newsletter highlights the many projects and partnerships that are leading to big change for people and communities across the country. FFI’s Founder and CEO Katya Fels Smyth reflects on some of the core beliefs that are central to the effectiveness of these collaborative endeavors to support people’s wellbeing, including the acknowledgement that we all, as human beings, are more alike than different. Read on and let us know what you think!

Summer 2014 Three reasons to focus on people not problems

Katya Fels Smyth highlights three reasons why FFI and Full Frame partners focus on people, not problems, and we share the latest news from our work with amazing organizations around the country.

Fall 2013 A new Five Domains of Wellbeing resource for you, and other great news!

In this issue we proudly announce our new video overview of the Five Domains of Wellbeing. This newsletter also features the great work happening in Missouri’s juvenile justice system and the latest news about the Full Frame Initiative around the country. Read it, and share with a friend or colleague!

Summer 2013 What’s in a frame? The power of perspective

Read highlights of our current partnerships, new staff members, and learn more about what’s working to break cycles. If you like what you read, share it with a friend or colleague!