ncdd presentation for communitymatters in newport vermont
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BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH ENGAGEMENT AND DIALOGUE
Newport, VT February 4, 2013
How do we move from this…
To this…
Challenges we’re facing…
Disillusionment with public institutions Partisan politics fostering “us against
them” attitudes Social fabric strained by disconnection,
isolation and “echo chamber” Complex, growing challenges no one
entity can solve “Customer” view of government Few places where people can build their
“civic muscle” in ways that feel safe, practical and productive
What we need more of…
Processes that encourage participation, personal responsibility, cooperation and action
Moving from a “deficit” based perspective of community to one that sees and leverages “assets”
Deliberative conversations that consider diverse views and values, and weigh carefully the tradeoffs of possible actions
Opportunities to strengthen relationships through meaningful dialogue about issues that matter
Core Principles for Public Engagement
Careful planning and preparation
Inclusion and demographic diversity
Collaboration and shared purpose
Openness and learning
Transparency and trust
Impact and action Sustained
engagement and participatory culture
From National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
Core Principles for Public Engagement
Careful planning and preparation
Inclusion and demographic diversity
Collaboration and shared purpose
Openness and learning
Transparency and trust
Impact and action
Sustained engagement and participatory culture
From National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
Asset-Based Community Development
INCLUSION & DIVERSITY
“ABCD helps us see people and places not as problems for experts to solve, but as being full of hidden assets, skills and strengths that can be harnessed.”
- Kretzmann & McKnight
Asset-Based Community Development
It is the capacities of local people and their associations that build powerful communities.
ABCD is a place-based approach focusing on the assets of an identified geographic area. The focus is on identifying the individuals that already care about issues and mobilizing their action.
Three “Acts” of ABCD
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Asset Mapping
Is NOT just another list of resources. It IS: A strategy to identify assets that are
available from within the community A process for connecting and engaging
the community and using the talents of people to help solve problems and build a better community
Asset Mapping Steps
Create a Resident Leadership Team Select the geographic area for action Draw first Asset Map Identify individual gifts and passions Draw second Asset Map Connect people with the same passions to
act collectively Celebrate
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Identify individual gifts and passions
Conduct a gift inventory Interview people you know
What gifts, skills or abilities are they’re willing to share?
What issues do they care about? What associations to they belong to? Who else do they know in the
neighborhood and would they be willing to interview them?
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Create a Second Asset Map
Group and map by passions
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Map by passions
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Connect people with the same passions to act collectively
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Source: ABCD Fellow Dan Dunchan www.hddabcd.org
Examples of initiatives since 2008:
Physical Health:• New fitness classes • Weight-loss and fitness
competitions• Development of walking
trails
Social Health:• Adding healthy foods to
community events• Created Scottish Festival
Economic Health:• Created microenterprise
loan program
Deliberative Forums
IMPACT & ACTION
Deliberation is “the kind of reasoning and talking we do when a difficult decision has to be made, a great deal is at stake, and there are competing options or approaches we might take. It means to weigh possible actions carefully by examining what is most valuable to us.”
• Searching for differences
• Seeks to prove others wrong
• Defends assumptions as truth
• Listen to find flaws and counter arguments
• Goal is to win
• Searching for strength in another position
• Seeks common understanding
• Reveals assumptions for reevaluation
• Listen to understand and find meaning in agreement
• Goal is to find common ground for action
DEBATEDELIBERATION
DEBATE VS. DELIBERATION
Strategies for changing the conversation
Structured conversation with ground rules Authentic framing or discussion guide Neutral and trained moderator and
recorder Committed participants
Deliberation is based on the premise that many people have pieces of the answer
and that together they forge new approaches and solutions.
Why a Deliberative Forum?
Learn the concerns people have about an issue.
Foster willingness to examine all sides of possible choices.
Identify the consequences, costs, and benefits associated with various approaches.
Work through the inherent conflicts and identify shared values
Find a shared sense of direction or common ground for public action.
Why a Deliberative Forum?
Helps people more deeply understand their own views and those of others
Creates new opportunities for collaboration Helps people see new possibilities for
action Strengthens relationships Gives policy makers clarity on priorities
and tradeoffs people are willing to accept
© 2012 E3 Alliance
Eanes Community Dialogues
© 2012 E3 Alliance
Goals:1. Identify what needs to be done to successfully prepare our
students for their future
2. Prioritize those needs, compare our resources, and provide guidance to our leaders
3. Improve communication between the various elements of our community
4. Further develop our infrastructure of volunteers
© 2012 E3 Alliance
Background:
1. Organized by individuals in the Eanes community and facilitated by E3 Alliance
2. Steering Committee of 33 volunteers lead extensive outreach efforts and managed logistics
3. EISD supported costs and logistical needs
4. Over 200 individuals attended over the four nights
© 2012 E3 Alliance
Process:• Structured, moderated small-group forum process using
discussion guide• Participants explored common values, examine options, offer
new ideas and foster a solution-based discussion • Trained 45 volunteers to moderate and record• Four 2.5 hour weekly sessions which built on each other
© 2012 E3 Alliance
Process Overview:Deliberate in small groups; exchange information as a whole
Night 1: Provide data on EISD and the economic impacts of education on Central Texas. Exchange perspectives and examine first of three potential approaches to preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs
Night 2: Exchange perspectives and examine approaches two and three
Night 3: Examine themes that emerged from nights one and two and develop action plans
Night 4: Identify barriers and enablers to actions that emerged on night three, identify opportunities to get involved and support student success
© 2012 E3 Alliance
Key Insights• “Meta-theme” was the need to maintain academic
rigor while creating a more balanced, well-rounded educational experience for students
• Importance of “soft” skills - creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, teamwork
• Create opportunities and support for all students with a range of college/career aspirations
• Tap into existing resources within the community – parents, businesses, community members, etc. and look to best practices and build on existing programs to advance new ideas
© 2012 E3 Alliance
Outcomes… • Significant alignment with District’s current strategic direction
• Need for consistency and pervasiveness of programs that integrate community goals
• Review campus plans; host meetings between admin and community to learn from each other; speakers bureau
• Strengthen relationships with community members with no kids in school; Veteran’s Day event
Community Dialogues
SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT
“Dialogue is a process of genuine interaction through which human beings listen to each other deeply enough to be changed by what they learn. Each makes a serious effort to take others’ concerns into her or his own picture, even when disagreement persists. No participant gives up her or his identity, but each recognizes enough of the other’s valid human claims that he or she will act differently toward the other.”
- Harold Saunders, A Public Peace Process
Small-group conversations on topics such as:
• Civility and Polarization
• Reconciliation• Religion and the
State• Authenticity• Security• Wisdom• Connectivity
Interfaith Community Dialogues open to the public. Hosted by Interfaith Action of Central Texas since 2009
Conversation Café
The Circle The Host The Agreements The Talking Object The Rounds
Simple and Elegant Design:
From Conversation Café – www.conversationcafe.org
The Agreements
Open-mindedness: Listen to and respect all
points of view.
Acceptance: Suspend judgment as best you
can.
Curiosity: Seek to understand rather than
persuade.
Discovery: Question assumptions, look for
new insights.
Sincerity: Speak from your heart and
personal experience.
Brevity: Go for honesty and depth but don’t
go on and on
From Conversation Café – www.conversationcafe.org
The Process
From Conversation Café – www.conversationcafe.org
The Circle – Rounds of 6 to 8 peopleThe Topic – A question, theme or topic the group will exploreHost – Introductions, Agreements, ProcessTalking Object – To foster deeper listening and speakingRounds – First Round, Open Dialogue, Final Round
The Benefits
From Conversation Café – www.conversationcafe.org
Simple, effective model that is easy to implement
Moves people from “small talk” to conversations that matter
Helps people have experience of being heard and having civil, thoughtful conversation
Fosters understanding and builds relationships
From www.ncdd.org/streams
Resources and Contact information
National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberationwww.ncdd.org
National Issues Forumswww.nifi.org
Conversation Café www.conversationcafe.org
Asset Based Community Developmentwww.abcdinstitute.org
Diane Miller, (512) 971-3033, dmiller@civiccollaboration.com
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