We Needed a Space Like This—So I Built It
Why The Collective?
Some things are born out of strategy. Others are born out of survival. The CortSand Collective? It was born out of both—and maybe a splash of stubborn hope.
We’re living through a time that feels both ancient and entirely new. Systems are shifting (or breaking), movements are building (and burning out), and many of us—especially those working at the intersection of justice, policy, power, and purpose—are asking the same question: Where can I bring the full weight of my knowledge, creativity, and care without being squeezed into someone else's box?
That question sat with me for a while. I asked it in government buildings and on nonprofit Zoom calls. I asked it as a senior advisor, as a strategist, as a consultant, and most importantly, as a Black woman who sees how brilliant our communities are—and how rarely we’re given the time, space, or trust to build the future we actually want.
So, I built a place for us to start.
The Collective is not a firm, a think tank, or a club. It’s a curated, intentional space where people who do the work—researchers, organizers, policy wonks, creatives, thinkers, and builders—can connect, contribute, and create in ways that are responsive to the moment and rooted in care.
It’s a space for:
Policy ideas grounded in real lives, not just white papers.
Strategies that consider both outcomes and values.
Conversations that aren’t performative but transformative.
People who want to speak truth, build together, and leave things better than they found them.
It’s also a place for publishing, convening, and consulting—with style. Think: blogs, memos, people-first events, deep research, sharp messaging, and maybe even a podcast episode or two. (No promises on the sound quality, but I’ll bring snacks.)
More than anything, this collective was created to meet the moment: to be flexible enough to evolve, but grounded enough to hold purpose as our north star. It’s a space for people who know their ideas matter, and who are done waiting for an invite to the “right” room.
Spoiler alert: we’re building a new room.
To friends, colleagues, kindred spirits, and curious observers—you’re already part of this. Whether you’re writing policy, leading campaigns, mentoring rising leaders, or just trying to find the courage to say the thing that needs to be said—you belong here. And we’d love to build with you.
We’re still growing, still listening, and still iterating. The Collective will take different forms over time, depending on who shows up and what the moment demands. But what won’t change is the spirit of it: community-oriented, strategy-smart, and just irreverent enough to keep it interesting. (Because if we can’t laugh every once in a while, what are we even doing?)
So here’s the ask:
Explore the space. Contribute if you’re inspired. And if this speaks to you—share it with someone else who might be looking for exactly this, but didn’t know it existed.
We’re just getting started. Let’s build something that matters.
By Cortney Sanders, Founder
There more over at the collective
