Place-based initiatives often begin with promising pilots, but the real challenge lies in building models that endure, evolve, and create lasting change for communities. From knowing when to sunset a project, to adapting an initiative as conditions shift, or to nurture long-term, community-driven impact, place-based work raises important questions about what success truly looks like. Should scale always be the goal—or are shifts in power and resources, and other changes representative of deeper measures of progress?

Together, we’ll discuss what it takes to move beyond the pilot phase. We’ll explore lessons from initiatives, strategies for embedding sustainability from the outset, and approaches to navigating shifts in the landscape. We’ll also consider how to balance the tension of replication across contexts with place-specific customization, to ultimately uncover the critical components of building pipelines that make change last.

To encourage open and candid discussion, this event follows the Chatham House Rule – attendees may share insights from the conversation but cannot attribute statements to specific individuals or organizations. This ensures a trusted space for thoughtful dialogue and deeper insights.