"Can our field present a united front to the new Administration? Let's start by seeing if we can develop a set of principles for public engagement we can all endorse..."

1. • CommentAuthorbillpotap
   • CommentTimeMar 9th 2009

    

   Greetings.  These are from a document I helped write entitled: Community Development:  A Guide for Grantmakers on Fostering Better Outcomes Through Good Process.

   Good community development process . . .
   • Requires advocacy, because it intentionally seeks to
   reform or upend existing processes in order to create
   a process that will lead to more investment, connection,
   and authentic participation, especially
   among those who have had the least voice.
   • Is not merely a single process, but an intentional
   strategy that encompasses the various participatory
   initiatives in a community and effectively coordinates,
   links, combines, and supports these efforts to
   ensure that, to the furthest extent possible, they are
   working in concert, using a shared strategy and
   supporting a common vision.
   • Responds to and reflects a widely divergent set
   of interests.
   • Is not imposed on people—it requires their consent.
   • Persistently ensures that community residents are
   meaningfully engaged and have sufficient power
   to influence decisions in ad hoc processes and
   governance structures.
   • Recognizes that race, class, culture, and power
   are central issues in community development, creates
   safe opportunities for authentic dialogue, and
   addresses these issues in planning, resource allocation,
   implementation, and evaluation processes.
   • Fosters collaborative conversations that become
   more strategic, holistic, and systemic over time.
   • Anticipates conflict and seeks to bring it to the
   surface and discuss it in ways that acknowledge
   the differences, improve understanding, and forge
   common ground.

    

   The full document can be found here:

   http://www.dcpi.ncjrs.gov/dcpi/pdf/comm_development_a_guide.pdf

    

2. • CommentAuthoracfonte
   • CommentTimeJun 12th 2009

    

   Good to hear from you Bill.  I have shared your comments with work colleagues here in Tucson.  In particular, the underlying issues of race, culture (and language, I would add), class and power are elements we often ignore or deny.  And yet, they fuel the obstacles we face in dialogue and engagement.

3. • CommentAuthorhankjmatt
   • CommentTime4 days ago

    

   The underlying issues of race, culture (and language, I would add), class and power are elements we often ignore or deny.
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