Working with community

Community engagement on complex issues is challenging work - and done well, it meaningfully improves decisions and builds trust between organizations and the communities they serve. Here are some ways I support local governments and organizations in creating meaningful engagement processes:

Plan and advise on public engagement processes — clarify the focus of engagement, create opportunities for meaningful public participation, ensure decision-makers are hearing from communities, and that the process is fair and transparent

Develop public participation policies, processes, and templates for your organization — effective engagement depends on preparation that happens before the open house or interest holder interviews. Internal engagement templates, process maps and policies can help guide community engagement work so it is consistent and effective.

Training in public participation — as a licensed IAP2 Trainer, I deliver the foundational courses of public participation, resulting in a Public Participation Certificate. I also develop custom workshops for organizations with specific areas of interest in community engagement.

• IAP2 Public Participation Certificate —three foundational courses available as a bundle or separately:

  • Fundamentals of Public Participation

  • Designing Public Participation and Engagement

  • Applying Methods

• Public Participation and Engagement for Allied Professionals—for professionals who provide support or oversight to engagement processes. Covers the underpinning models and frameworks of public participation practices.

• Public Participation for Senior Leaders—examines engagement from the leadership decision-making perspective, with a focus on improving results, credibility, and process performance.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Get in touch.