Techniques inCivic Engagement

Presented by Bill RizzoLocal Government Specialist

UW-Extension Local Government Centerwilliam.rizzo@ces.uwex.edu

http://lgc.uwex.edu/dg/index.html608-265-6273

Civic engagement as we’ve known it…

Typically occurs around contentious issues

Often conflict-laden May involve uncivil behavior

A polarizing environment

Three Questions

1. What is civic engagement?

2. Why is it important?

3. How is it done?

Main points The what, why, and how of civic

engagement;

Civic engagement goals;

Wicked problems;

Deliberative engagement approach/steps;

Engagement roles officials can play.

What do we mean by‘civic engagement?’

A working definition - civic engagement refers to processes

and methods local officials can use to communicate and collaborate with citizens and stakeholders in

developinglocal policy.

Why engage with the public? To better understand how the public sees

and is affected by community issues and challenges so that local policies can be developed that respond effectively to them. In other words, to develop better public policy…to govern effectively

To more fully ‘democratize’ local governance;

To develop a community’s capacity to explore, understand, and address challenges and opportunities.

Goals of Civic Engagement

(Source: International Association of Public Participation1. To inform the public;

2. To consult the public;3. To involve the public;4. To collaborate with the public;5. To empower the public.

To Inform(Source: International Association for Public Participation)

Goal Promise to the Public

Example Techniques

To provide the public with balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problem, alternatives, opportunities and/or solutions

We will keep you informed.

• Fact sheets• Websites• Open houses

To Consult(Source: International Association for Public Participation)

Goal Promise to the Public

Example Techniques

To obtain public feedback on analysis, alternatives and/or decisions.

We will keep you informed, listen to and acknowledge concerns and aspirations, and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision.

• Public comment

• Focus groups

• Surveys• Public

meetings

To Involve(Source: International Association for Public Participation)

Goal Promise to the Public

Example Techniques

To work directly with the public throughout the process to ensure that public concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered.

We will work with you to ensure that your concerns and aspirations are directly reflected in the alternatives developed and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision.

• Workshops• Deliberativ

e polling

To Collaborate(Source: International Association for Public Participation)

Goal Promise to the Public

Example Technique

sTo partner with the public in each aspect of the decision including the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution.

We will look to you for advice and innovation in formulating solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

• Citizen advisory committees

• Consensus-building

• Participatory decision-making

To Empower (Source: International Association for Public Participation)

Goal Promise to the Public

Example Techniques

To place final decision-making in the hands of the public.

We will implement what you decide.

• Citizen juries

• Ballots• Delegated

decision

‘Deliberative’ Civic Engagement

Collaborative – citizens, officials, other stakeholders;

Naming & framing issues; Development of alternative solutions; A way to have civil, productive

discussions; Uses specific techniques; Good for dealing with ‘wicked

problems.’

Wicked Problems Not fully understood until a solution is

developed; Since there’s no definitive ‘The Problem’,

there’s also no definitive ‘The Solution;’ Solutions to wicked problems are not right or

wrong; Wicked problems are unique and novel; Every solution is a ‘one-shot operation.’ You

can’t learn about the problem without trying solutions, but every solution has costs and unintended consequences that are likely to spawn new wicked problems.

What the problem is, and its solution, are BOTH unclear

Civic Engagement Techniques

Issue ‘Naming & Framing’Issue Naming

What is the problem we need to talk about?

Issue FramingWhat are the critical options and drawbacks for deciding what to do about that problem?

Why Name & Frame Issues? …makes it more likely that citizens will

participate in making decisions because the problem is stated in terms that take into account the things they hold deeply valuable;

…results in an “issue framework” that sets the stage for public deliberation by making clear the options available for addressing an issue or problem, as well as the tensions around it;

…clarifies what is at issue, in understandable terms.

3 key questions addressed during issue

naming and framing1. What concerns you about this issue?

2. Given those concerns, what would you or others do about it?

3. If that worked to ease your concern, what are the downsides or trade-offs we might then have to accept?

Types of issues to name & frame

Not technical Issues/problems …

Not educational issues/problems…

…but issues/problems that require public decisions leading to public actions

When to name & frame an issue When an issue or problem:

besets a community over and over again; is systemic and is very difficult to solve; is intractable because it involves tensions

between things held valuable by people, where every solution has a downside, and where there is no clear right answer;

is one where there’s a lack of agreement about what the issue/problem is…and when people try to find solutions, conflicts arise between things held valuable by them;

even if we solved today, will be back later—not because we did a bad job solving it, but because circumstances change (e.g. persistent poverty, persistent crime, health care).

Dialogue Led by a skilled facilitator (not an official); In small groups, citizens and officials talk with

one another and share perspectives and stories about how an issue affects them, what it means to them, and why;

Values & the tensions are part of the conversation;

Allows an issue to be described (named and framed) so that it reflects multiple realities;

Not about winning/losing but developing shared sense of what an issue is to many different people, across a community;

Helps dispel stereotypes and build trust; Helps people be open to perspectives different

from their own.

Public Deliberation(Source: National Issues Forums)

Facilitated conversation used to generate and examine 3-4 policy options after an issue has been named and framed. Three questions for each alternative are:

1. What actions should be taken to implement this policy alternative?

2. What are the advantages of this policy alternative?

3. What are the tradeoffs of this policy alternative?

Civic Engagement Rolesfor Local Officials

Convener

Educator

Learner

Champion

Review The what, why, and how of civic

engagement;

Civic engagement goals. For each, the promise made to the public & specific techniques;

Wicked problems;

Deliberative engagement approach/steps;

Engagement roles officials can play.

Techniques inCivic Engagement

Presented by Bill RizzoLocal Government Specialist

UW-Extension Local Government Centerwilliam.rizzo@ces.uwex.edu

http://lgc.uwex.edu/dg/index.html608-265-6273