Post on 14-Jul-2020
Collaborative Governance and
Civic Engagement
Missouri Municipal League 2011 Annual Conference
Presented by
Sarah Read The Communications Center, Inc.
Columbia, Missouri
© 2010 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com © 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Overview
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§ What is it? § Who is doing it? § Why do it? § How do you do it? § Resources and wrap-up.
© 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
What is it?
© 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Civic Engagement § “Individual and collective actions designed
to identify and address issues of public concern.” (Wikipedia)
§ “[W]orking to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference.” (From the preface to Civic Responsibility and Higher Education as quoted in the NYT)
© 2010 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com © 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Collaborative Governance § A true partnership through which
government, community and citizen stakeholders jointly work together to make well-informed and sustainable decisions.
§ Authority, responsibility, and accountability
are all shared.
© 2010 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com © 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Who is doing it?
© 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Civic Engagement § Kansas City § St. Louis § Columbia § Springfield § St. Charles § And many more.
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Collaborative Governance
§ Decatur, Georgia http://www.decaturnext.com § Manor, Texas http://www.manorlabs.org § Baltimore, MD http://www.baltometro.org § St. Louis, MO http://www.ewgateway.org § And others.
© 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Why are they doing it?
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Benefits of Higher Level Engagement
§ Better information § Improved problem solving capacity § More resources § Increased acceptance of results § More sustainable policies § Less conflict, more trust
© 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Challenges § Lack of skills § Lack of money and other resources § Lack of understanding § Inertia and resistance § Lack of time § Silos and disconnects § Diverse populations § Managing expectations
Generational Differences § Hierarchy § Involvement § Technology § Identity § Volunteering Style § Trust in Authority § Use of Data
How are they going about it?
© 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Key Factors • Listening • Informing • Inviting • Questioning • Careful planning • Broad engagement • Clear boundaries • Integration
• Clear, consistent, coherent and congruent communication
• Multifaceted outreach • Continuous contact • Humility • Respect
Food for Thought § “Democracy needs to be reborn in each
generation and education is its midwife.” ~John Dewey
© 2010 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com © 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
ManorLabs - Homepage
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ManorLabs – Idea List
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ManorLabs – Innovation Market
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Open Government Initiative
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Data.gov
Albemarle
Why People Don’t Engage l Not Motivated l Overwhelmed l Not Invited l Fearful or Angry l Don’t Know How l Other
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Sustaining Your Process
l “One of the most common mistakes made by organizers [of democratic governance efforts] is failing to document and report the results of the projects.”
l National League of Cities, Changing the Way We Govern
© 2010 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com © 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
• “Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience.” ~Admiral Hyman Rickover
Final Thought
© 2010 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com © 2011 The Communications Center, Inc www.buildingdialogue.com
Contact Info Sarah Read
The Communications Center, Inc. www.buildingdialogue.com
910 E. Broadway, Ste 208
Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 447-0499 • info@buildingdialogue.com
About The Communications Center At The Communications Center, Inc. we are dedicated
to helping individuals, organizations and communities with the thinking, communication, and process skills they need to work through difficult and complex issues. We have a deep respect for the public sector and recognize the vital role that government institutions have in supporting and sustaining our community life. We offer training, consulting and facilitation services for both civic engagement and collaborative governance, and we can customize these to your needs. We would welcome the opportunity to work together with you.
www.buildingdialogue.com