1. Connected Communities: Local Governments as a Partner in Citizen Engagement and Community Building

2. ALLIANCE FOR INNOVATION The Alliance for Innovation is a network of local governments driving innovation throughout their organizations to enhance operations and build stronger communities. We do that through sharing emerging practices, conducting cutting edge research, and providing professional development opportunities.

3. OVERVIEW CONNECTED COMMUNITIES Goals of Engagement Who is Responsible? Strategies and Methods Case Studies Integrating a Way Forward James Svara and Janet Denhardt, editors of the White Paper and professors at Arizona State University, draw on twelve essays written by experts on citizen engagement.

7.  It’s the Right thing  It’s the Smart thing

10. “We’ll see that more successful outcomes will be those that are less dependent on government to be source of solution. We won’t be successful even if we do have the resources without the broader community support and outreach. Tom Bonfield, City Manager Durham NC.

11. Manager

13. Citizen engagement: ability and incentive for ordinary people to come together, deliberate and take action on problems or issues that they themselves have defined as important.

14. COLLABORATION? OR POLARIZATION?

16.  Offers opportunities for people to be better citizens  Builds capacity to meet unanticipated problems  Changes the conversation and encourages authentic relationships  It will help you create more sustainable solutions

17. Exchange versus Engagement

18. Settings: Making decisions and delivering services

20. Inform consult

21. incorporate Collaborate empower

22. provide Respond

23. co-Produce Collaborate empower

25. WHAT IS CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT? Strategies and Methods ExchangesEngagement Policy Making InformConsultIncorporateCollaborateEmpower Service Delivery ProvideRespondCo-producePartnerEmpower

26. WHAT IS CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT? Strategies and Methods ExchangesEngagement Policy Making Inform Press Release Consult Focus Groups Incorporate Advisory Boards Collaborate Priority Setting Empower Citizen Commission Service Delivery Provide Pick up garbage Respond 911 Co-produce Recycling Partnership Volunteers Empower Neighborhood Watch Examples of these strategies and methods

28. What are you doing in your government? How is it working?

29. A. Use with good results B. Use with mixed results C. Use with bad results D. Have not used 20

30. A. Use with good results B. Use with mixed results C. Use with bad results D. Have not used 20

31. A. Use with good results B. Use with mixed results C. Use with bad results D. Have not used 20

32. A. Use with good results B. Use with mixed results C. Use with bad results D. Have not used 20

33. A. Use with good results B. Use with mixed results C. Use with bad results D. Have not used 20

34. A. Use with good results B. Use with mixed results C. Use with bad results D. Have not used 20

35. A. Use with good results B. Use with mixed results C. Use with bad results D. Have not used 20

36. A. Use with good results B. Use with mixed results C. Use with bad results D. Have not used 20

37.  What are your most successful citizen engagement activities from this list?  What are the mixed results you have experienced?  Were the mixed results produced by the method or the execution of the method?  What other citizen engagement activities have worked well in your community? ASSESSING YOUR EXPERIENCE (Discussion at tables a ) ASSESSING YOUR EXPERIENCE (Discussion at tables a ssessing the results of clicker survey questions )

38. Engagement means involving citizens--  Not just as Customers or Stakeholders  But also as Shareholders, Partners, and Community Members WHO ARE WE TRYING TO ENGAGE?

39. Engagement means --  Encouraging all citizens to be involved  Taking proactive steps to get persons with knowledge or impacted by the decision at the table WHO ARE WE TRYING TO ENGAGE?

40. People in  Churches  Parks  Schools  Grocery Stores  Libraries  Recreation Venues  On-Line  Use your imagination….

41. How would you connect with the community to:  Start a farmer’s market?  Integrate a commercial development with adjoining residential area?  Develop a community sustainability strategy?  Involve residents in the policy making and operations of a neighborhood library?  Get youth engaged in community activities?

42. Colorado Spring, CO Olathe, KS San Jose, CA Arlington, VA Phoenix, AZ

43. Determine what you are trying to achieve Inventory Current Activities Engage your Technology Assess your Resources Catalyze Staff HOW to Begin? Techniques and Tools

44.  Choose techniques that match your goals  Honestly assess your readiness  Choose the right situations and approaches  Find synergies between separate activities.

46. Illustrative framework: Multi- faceted strategy to create a Connected Community I. Foundation Positive exchange (essential but not engagement by itself):  Open and active exchanges with citizens  Transparency and accessible information

47. Ba sics built on the foundation— ongoing activities Illustrative framework II. Ba sics built on the foundation— ongoing activities  On-line and in-person forums/focus groups on important issues and decisions (not just hearings)  Small group discussion of budget priorities  Co-production of services  Volunteer opportunities for residents  Involve community groups and nonprofits  Facilitate social entrepreneurs  Social media to link citizens to others/gov’t  Orient staff to their role in the community

48. Illustrative framework III. Special objectives and needs  Expanding knowledge and building leaders  Citizen academy  Overcoming divisions among population groups  Study circles. Everyday Democracy  Resolving major issue or challenge  Community forum combining small groups and large assembly. Americanspeaks  Planning or goal setting  Community-based visioning process  Monitoring community services  Citizen survey with resident focus groups

49. 1. If I want to participate, am I welcome and able to do so? 2. If participate, will I be heard? 3. If I am heard, will anything happen? 4. If I participate once, will I want to, know how to, and be invited to participate again?

50. Connected to What Citizens see as Important Connected to Each Other – Citizens and Government Electronic and Traditional New Ventures Build on Previous Ones Separate activities reinforce each other Organizations are Partners in Engagement Examples  Decatur, GA  Redwood City, CA CONNECTED COMMUNITY

51. Table discussion What will you do when you go home? What do you need help with?

52. Include Citizens in Developing the Approach Know Why you are Taking What Action Build Staff Capacity to Engage Link Approaches and Integrate Techniques Seek out Diversity Measure Outcomes – What is accomplished? RECOMMENDATIONS

53. RESOURCES:www.transformgov.org View Executive Summary View Complete White Paper Citizen Engagement Group KN Alliance Connected Communities Wiki!