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This toolkit was developed with and for teams engaged in the Community and Cancer Science Network (CCSN), a transdisciplinary initiative working to reduce cancer disparities in Wisconsin.
It reflects the lessons, tools, and practices used across CCSN’s projects that bring together researchers, clinicians, community leaders, survivors, co-survivors, and advocates to co-create effective sustainable solutions to cancer disparities. The work is grounded in a shared belief that complex problems require not only cross-sector collaboration, but also a deep commitment to equitable practice, humility, and systems thinking. The toolkit is organized to reflect the core elements of CCSN’s approach. It begins with background on the network and how we define our transdisciplinary model. It then explores how we convene diverse teams and build the relationships that make sustained collaboration possible. The heart of the toolkit focuses on the three dynamic stages of our work: (1) Incubate, (2) Innovate, and (3) Implement. These three stages of the approach are iterative, overlapping, and grounded in shared learning. Each phase includes goals, tools, and examples to support teams as they move from shared understanding to testable action. This is not a linear process. Teams may cycle through each stage more than once, and the practices described here are meant to support adaptive, resilient and evolving collaborations—not rigid ones. |
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This toolkit is part field guide, part invitation. It is packed with lessons learned the hard way and insights still unfolding. It’s for anyone ready to shake up the status quo and build systems change from the ground up, with equity, curiosity, and collaboration leading the charge.
The toolkit is available for download. To cite this work or if you have questions, please contact us at [email protected].
| toolkit_final_website_2026.01.05.pdf |