The Endowments’ five program areas collaborate on special initiatives intended to magnify the impact of the Endowments’ investment in this region. Teams of staff members have pooled their expertise to craft strategies identified under the headings of African American Men and Boys, Civic Design, Downtown Now, Pathways to Educational Excellence and Sustainable Innovation. An overarching policy affecting all of these efforts calls for grant recipients to employ environmentally sensitive, or “green,” practices and construction. These initiatives further demonstrate the Endowments' commitment to being an active partner in the region's growth and development.