Mission

To improve the wellness in Nacogdoches County by increasing the capacity of and collaboration within the community, agencies, and people.

Definition of Wellness

Improving wellness is at the heart of all that Better Together Nacogdoches does. We define wellness as a quality of life characterized by good physical, mental, and emotional health, social connectedness, a sense of purpose, and the ability to enjoy a balanced, satisfying lifestyle. 

Access to certain basic needs are fundamental to wellness, although wellness goes beyond attainment of these basic needs:

• Regular access to healthy food
• Affordable access to quality healthcare and mental healthcare
• Affordable access to safe, affordable, and dignified housing
• The ability to earn a living wage under safe and fair conditions
• Access to safe, affordable, and dignified childcare

While we recognize that individuals make choices and engage in behaviors that promote wellness, we also recognize that environmental and systemic factors heavily influence both the ability and desire of individuals to engage in wellness-promoting activities. In fact, we believe that communities have the responsibility to build an environment and systems that promote wellness. 

Our Role

Convener: Igniting Ideas and Building Connections

Better Together brings organizations, leaders, and community members together around issues that impact wellness. We serve as a catalyst, helping move the community from identifying challenges to exploring shared solutions. Through convenings, we create space for dialogue, relationship-building, and the generation of collaborative ideas rooted in the local context. We encourage partners to think creatively, identify opportunities for alignment, and begin taking collective action.

Backbone Organization: Supporting Collaborative Action

When collaborative efforts emerge, Better Together may serve as a backbone organization to help transform ideas into sustained action. We provide coordination, communication, and strategic support to ensure initiatives build momentum and develop strong internal practices. By offering structure and facilitation, we help collaborative efforts move forward efficiently, strengthen partnerships, and remain focused on shared goals.

Capacity Builder: Strengthening Sustainable Community Impact

Better Together builds the capacity of organizations, coalitions, and community leaders to operate effectively and sustainably. We provide training, tools, and technical assistance to strengthen leadership, collaboration, and data-informed decision-making. Our goal is to equip local partners with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to sustain initiatives and continue advancing wellness across the community. It is also our goal that coalitions or other collaborative initiatives for which we serve as the backbone organization are able to transition to operating independently of Better Together as those internal practices solidify.