At the core of the CAB is the principle that effective solutions must be informed by those who are most directly impacted by the issues we seek to solve. By integrating lived experience into our programming and policy priorities, NHCJE aims to strengthen both the relevance and impact of our work.

The CAB provides a structured mechanism for regional community ambassadors to convene local stakeholders, particularly those representing communities of color and other historically underserved groups, to share insights about local challenges, emerging needs or opportunities, and the real-world impacts of policies and systems. This input directly informs NHCJE’s four program pillars and six sectors of effort, ensuring that our organizational strategies remain responsive and grounded.

The CAB is designed to be flexible, consistent and collaborative, with members expected to complete a participatory facilitation training, organize a minimum of two regional gatherings, and meet quarterly as a full group to synthesize their findings. Between meetings, CAB members are actively engaged in their regions, facilitating conversations, gathering feedback and strengthening relationships.

Each member plays a key role in:

• Identifying and engaging a broad range of community stakeholders

• Facilitating community conversations by partnering with local groups and coalitions

• Documenting and synthesizing insights from these engagements

• Sharing findings with fellow CAB members and NHCJE staff to inform broader organizational strategies