The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University is a comprehensive management support organization coupled with an academic center for graduate study and research. Over the past five years, we have served more than 20% of the 6,000 nonprofits in our region with high quality consulting and educational services. We believe we can be a catalytic force for change, and an advocate for strengthening not just the daily operations of nonprofits, but the communities that we all aim to serve.

As more and more indicators suggest that public trust in nonprofit organizations is at an all time low, we are concerned about the impact on our communities. We know that the willingness of individual citizens to engage as volunteers, philanthropists and activists is critical if we are to confront the most serious challenges before us. And yet, much of our experience contradicts this data. Individual giving continues to grow. Volunteers do important work every day. And nonprofit organizations successfully educate and influence elected officials and the course of legislative action.

We know that Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania may be a region where trust is somewhat higher. We do have a rich tradition of philanthropy, committed civic leaders and a vibrant nonprofit sector. And while we lament a reported decline in trust of nonprofits, other studies suggest that when nonprofits are compared to private industry, we still command a greater share of public confidence. It isn't clear what much of the available information means for our local institutions. Meaningful synthesis has been lacking.

We also know that trust is not easily measured or moved. No mere public service announcement will assure our stakeholders' confidence. And yet, in the absence of trust, citizen engagement will decline and our civic institutions will falter.

It is time to thoroughly examine the systemic and cultural issues that underpin our community's cherished institutions and our collective future.

Nexus, then, is a conversation about understanding trust and civic engagement in our communities and determining ways to build on the good work already underway.

So often we've had the opportunity to learn from a highly regarded expert at a conference or one-day event. These can be exciting and fascinating moments, but transformative change requires a sustained conversation - a diligent, structured approach to examining the issues with a broad group of stakeholders, allowing time for reflection and in-depth dialogue. With an 18-month calendar and multiple interactions, Nexus is designed for lasting impact.

As we launch this effort, it is with a list of carefully crafted questions, but no firm conclusions. By bringing together national thought leaders and highly active community leaders, we plan to shape a common understanding of our circumstances and an agenda for positive growth and change.

Nexus is not an attempt to invite a representative sample of the general public. Because they are volunteers, philanthropists and activists, Nexus participants are already highly informed about the state of civic engagement in our community. Because of their positions, we believe that they can bring not just their individual histories and opinions, but judgment about successful approaches and models. They're also better prepared to analyze solutions suggested by our experts and find ways to fit them into existing efforts, or to recognize when they are not appropriate for our circumstances.

Lastly, while we know that our challenges are many, we also believe that much in our community is good and sound and deserves praise, recognition and emulation. We are not here merely to add new, but to celebrate the existing and learn from those already leading by example.