We wake up every morning asking ourselves these three questions... 

     - How do we get the word out about innovative solutions that work to solve our nation's social problems
        (ones that the government is struggling to solve)? 
     - How can we gather information on the best ones out there?
     - How can we share and help replicate the best ideas into more communities across America?  

History of the NICENetwork
Out of her research for the book, The Power of One: The Unsung Everyday Heroes Rescuing America’s Cities,
Debra Berg realized three important findings during her research which have fueled the NICENetwork...
Everyday people are coming up with the answers that meet social concerns in their communities.
The sacrifices of those who had the vision to launch these initiatives have been great
and their stories should be told so that others can learn from their successes.
Why reinvent the wheel?

Human service professionals need the nation’s help to support and sustain their efforts,
which costs the taxpayer almost nothing yet brings self-reliance to individuals
in a compassionate and cost-effective way.

It was Debra Berg’s research that sparked her enthusiasm for America’s citizen problem-solvers, “civic entrepreneurs”, and the NICENetwork. Her eight-year, self-funded trek to interview one-hundred individuals in over thirty cities forged dozens of lasting relationships. Since then, she’s had multiple opportunities to share their innovative solutions and inspiring successes with live audiences, the Chicago Sun Times, eighty radio and TV stations across the nation, as well as through social media. Debra first reached the internet audience by hosting an interview talk show, "The Power of One: What's Your Mission?” on VoiceAmerica.com in 2007 which drew thousands of listeners.

Out of much activity, Debra’s efforts serendipitously inspired new connections and joint-efforts between civic entrepreneurs. Simply as a result of being juxtaposed in the same book and featured together on her radio show, they witnessed each other’s challenges, successes, and visions for the first time. 

Debra imagined how more connections like this could speed up help to the needy if there was a place for civic entrepreneurs to share their knowledge. Busy schedules and a lack of awareness of each other’s efforts were the barriers. Also, the success of their initiatives was below the daily radar of potential donors and supporters. Convinced that initiatives like these, which place 85% of the previously homeless in good jobs within nine months or achieve an unprecedented 89% adoption rate of special needs foster children merited broader exposure, Debra wondered how she could spread the word. A knowledge base chronicling these ideas was needed to educate civic entrepreneurs, donors, and volunteers. If their priceless experience was lost, future nonprofit founders would “reinvent the wheel” and lose valuable time with which to help the disadvantaged achieve self-reliance.

NICENetwork will soon help more civic entrepreneurs expand their initiatives and speed up self-reliance to many of the nation’s disadvantaged today and into the future.

To learn more about Debra's research and civic entrepreneurs, purchase The Power of One here. All proceeds go toward the mission of the NICE Network.