If we are to be successful in moving an effective policy agenda to support of healthy corporations, communities and ecosystems, we first need to bring the larger set of players together from across their silos. In order to garner sufficient momentum it is important to have discussions across silos and not just within them. In these discussions, areas of common interest and policy development could be explored; specific policy initiatives could be developed. While the task will not be easy, the need is great and the possible benefits to all greater still.

A discussion of policy initiatives is key in that such an exploration will also help better define those areas in which actors from various silos can support a common policy agenda. This discussion could define the scope of work and address such fundamental questions as:(1)

• Should policy development address issues related to private capital investment? Public funding initiatives? Tax frameworks to support emerging areas of work?
  
  
• Or should the policy agenda be broadened to include such arenas as community and economic development (including such considerations as public investment practices, land-use and economic development policies?
  
  
• What mechanisms are needed to ensure participation in the development of policy agendas by those within these various silos?
  
  
• Who are the key actors and where are the most effective leverage points in advancing core parts of this policy agenda?(2)

All this can only happen when the various actors are presented with opportunities to come together as a whole. At present, there are only a modest number of "silo-wide" opportunities to come together-and virtually none that are focused on convening the commons as a whole. Initiating this dialogue and enabling its participants to advance a shared policy agenda will take a significant investment of both time and money-but as we have witnessed in other sectors of interest, the pay offs may be quite significant.

Finally, it is also critical that regulatory and policy development efforts be firmly connected to the actual experience and interests of practice. In the same way that research is irrelevant if not embedded in practical application, the interests and priorities of practitioners should set the agenda for policy development and advocacy. Organizations such as PolicyLink and others are key in advancing this strategy of building policy from practice. Consideration should be given to supporting more such efforts in the future.

(1) The authors would like to thank Ray Colmenar and Victor Rubin of PolicyLink for their suggestions regarding a policy research agenda (www.policylink.org) .
(2) Three general areas for future work could be identified as tax law, general regulatory structure (for business enterprise, lenders and property developers), and influencing/leveraging direct public investments.