NCDD Presentation for CommunityMatters in Newport Vermont

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


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?


Create a Second Asset Map

Group and map by passions


Map by passions


Connect people with the same passions to act collectively



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


The Process


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


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, [email protected]

NCDD Presentation for CommunityMatters in Newport Vermont

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