COLLECTIVE IMPACT
A Smarter Way to Create Real Change
Collective impact is a powerful approach that brings the right people to the table – government leaders, nonprofits, businesses, and community members – to tackle big environmental and social challenges together. Instead of working in silos, partners align their efforts to drive results none of us could achieve alone.
Here’s how collective impact turns collaboration into real progress:
One Shared Vision: Everyone rallies around the same goals and a unified plan for action; no competing priorities, just clear direction.
One Way to Measure Success: All partners use the same data to track what’s working, what’s changing, and where we can make the biggest difference.
Stronger Together: Each organization contributes its unique strengths, creating a network of aligned, complementary efforts that amplify impact across the community.
Communication that Fuels Momentum: Consistent, transparent communication keeps partners informed, connected, and ready to adapt as needs evolve.
A Dedicated Backbone Driving It Forward: Behind every successful collective impact initiative is a central coordinating force.
In Atlanta, that’s Root Local; connecting people, ideas, and resources to accelerate sustainability across the city.
Ready to Make a Collective Impact?
Root Local Success Stories
Think Natives First: Native Plants, From Plan to Performance
With Roundstone Native Seeds, the Georgia Native Plant Society and our sponsors and exhibitors, the second Think Natives FirstTM Plant Conference grew from 89 to 144 attendees. We added 7 new courses and offered CEUs and PDHs for the first time. Read More >
Oakland Cemetery: Costumes Get a Second Life
At our annual table with Historic Oakland Cemetery, 125 visitors helped divert 52 costumes from landfill, up from 37 in 2025. Social media and our partnership with Epsten Group spread the word further than ever. Read More >
When Landscaping Meets Textile Reuse
In the summer of 2024, Root Local convened two of its EMMA partners, GreenBox Homes and re:loom, around a shared agenda: keep plastic in any form out of the environment and ultimately out of the landfill. What began as a simple collaboration quickly became measurable impact. Read More >
Testimonials
“I was so excited about this conference because it’s something I’ve been wanting to do forever, which is to get everybody into one room where we can talk about the issues involved in growing native plants, selling native plants…making money with native plants… There’s just nothing like an in person, conversation versus people just texting back-and-forth. So this has been a great day”
~ Trecia Neal, Wildlife Biologist and co-owner of Wild Roots Nursery, on the inaugural Think Natives First tm Plant Conference, September 2025
“I thought I would have to, you know, ‘invent’ something like re:loom. I didn’t know they already existed! Without Root Local, I would have never known. I don’t know how I would have ever found them.”
~ Tres Crow, GreenBox Homes, referring to “making” a reusable tote to transport bulk mulch and compost. Read more about the partnership between GreenBox Homes and re:loom on our Collective Impact Success Stories page.
“We are on a mission to educate the entire city about how to have sustainable practices in their everyday life, and I think Root Local does a great job in connecting those dots.”
~ Dawn Brown, Mercedes-Benz Stadium
“So what inspires me to volunteer with Root Local is really the community that it brings together. All the people that I meet from so many different backgrounds and areas of the city, and all the different things that I learn about the sustainable world and the environment here in our city.”
– Casey Kelly, Pollinator Network
Make a Collective Impact
We understand that with so many options in the sustainability world, it’s hard to know where you can start making a meaningful impact. We are here to make it easier.
Grow the Map
Support us in growing the Eco-Map for Metro Atlanta, or EMMA, so individuals, communities, organizations, and businesses can connect, find solutions, and embrace environmental consciousness.
Get Involved
There are always ways to create impact. Root Local provides a one-stop resource that offers opportunities to connect. Volunteer, attend events, join committees: find the right fit on our Event Calendar.