Community Engagement: You CAN do it! Randy Dykhuis Michelle Bradley September 18, 2015

What would it take for you to have a bigger impact on your community? More money? A bigger building in a better location? More staff?

Ann Marie SmithPickford Community Library

Knox County Public Library “Close the Book on Hunger” Community conversations with local disabilities group led to tactile art exhibits and descriptive DVDs Historic preservation award for Carnegie renovation—paint color selection was based on community input

East 38 th St. Branch--IPL “ASK probing questions to determine TRUE needs” Shanika Heyward, Branch Manager STEM based storytimes Breakfast with a cop Mobile food pantry Job Center

Red Hook, NY Public Library Engaged the community using tools from the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and learned: Not everyone could get to the programs at the library There was a need to create leadership and volunteer opportunities for teens. Designed a "mobile maker program" and formed new partners

Turning Outward “Turning Outward makes the community and the people the reference point for getting things done.”

Outreach

Aspirations

Public Knowledge Transportation Safe Neighborhoods Education

 Ask Exercise  Aspirations Tree  Aspirations Board  Aspirations Exercise  Community Conversations—going deeper  Innovation Space  Community Engagement Roundtables Tools You CAN Use

A one-on-one 3-5 minute conversation Q1: What kind of community do you want to live in? Q2: Why is that important to you? Q3: How is that different from how you see things now? Q4: What are some of the things that need to happen to create that kind of change? Ask Exercise

Your turn to talk Take a few minutes to talk with those around you about your aspirations for your community Aspirations

Now that you have identified some aspirations, what are the challenges that stand in the way of accomplishing them? Take a few minutes to discuss in the same group Challenges and concerns

What did you learn? Any insights from your discussions? Report out:

Create a story Identify themes 90 minute conversations 10 questions 8-12 people Community Conversations

People want (aspirations), but they’re concerned that (main concerns). As people talk more about those concerns they talk specifically about (specific issue(s)). They believe we need to focus on (actions) and if (groups) played a part in those actions that folks would be more likely to trust the effort and step forward. Community Narrative

Aspirations Tree

Aspirations

Regularly scheduled conversations that bring different departments together to focus on what you’re learning as an organization and how to use what you’re learning to create change. The goal is learning and innovation—not planning Make attendance voluntary Innovation Space

Imagine your community transformed Invite your community to share aspirations Invest in the process Initiate change Take the journey with us

Community Engagement Roundtables--- share successes, seek advice, get ideas December 10, 2015 from 10:30 AM to Noon ET at the Knox County Public Library, Vincennes, IN Community Engagement Support

 Harwood/ALA Public Innovators Lab. Detroit, MI October  Libraries Transforming Communities—Free tools and webinars from ALA communities More Information

Questions?