The three key ingredients behind program impact & three case studies.

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The Triangle’s Corner

This week, I’m sharing a simple framework that summarizes the three key ingredients behind programs that create real impact.

The story draws from my personal experience, three case studies, insights from 40+ interviews, and over 20 years of experience.

I discuss lessons from the following three programs:

SB 375 Program at the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Homeless Data Integration System, run by the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CalICH)
California Jobs First, run by the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the Governor’s Office

It’s longer than usual (about 15 minutes) because it’s adapted from an in-person talk I gave on December 4, 2024, at the 2025 Forum on Emerging Technologies and Government Modernization.

I know this week’s story is more critical than the previous ones. My hope is that this transparency helps raise awareness and unpack the secret sauce behind creating real community impact.

It was an absolute honor and joy to share the stage with so many government and technology leaders across California, especially my colleague and friend Jefferey Marino, who joined the follow up fireside chat with me.

Thank you to Keely Martin Bosler and Bill Maile for their kind invitation.

See the video that summarizes the presentation here.

To my incredible colleagues who collaborated with me on the SB 375 program, the Homeless Data Integration System, and the California Jobs First initiative :

This story is not a critique of our hard work. It is a reflection on the impact of our programs and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. My goal is to better understand what drives meaningful community impact. Not to judge past efforts, but to build on them with honesty and transparency.

Missed last week’s story? Watch the 2 minute story here. It’s an amazing story showing a closure of a refinery in California ignited an unexpected partnership between labor unions and environmental justice communities.

👉 Want to learn more about us?

I am Nader Afzalan, Ph.D.

Founder of The Triangle and Director of the Sustainable Environmental Program at UC Berkeley.

At The Triangle we help measure the community impact of programs and design programs that deliver.

🌐 thetriangle.io
📩 nader@thetriangle.io

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