Community Rec Magazine’s Post

"In order to advance equity, we need to know what participants are experiencing." Our Participant Centered Design team partners with Community Action Partnership - National Office to incorporate participant voices in assessment. Check out the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gZtz4BVz

In 2022, we discussed ways for residents to get more actively involved in Sustainability, Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, Community Safety, and Civic Engagement. In 2023, we talked about Our Public Schools, Traveling Around Town, Building Community with Renters and Landlords, and Planning and Development in the Heights. WHAT will be our topics for Crowdsourced Conversations 2024??? That’s where you come in. When you click the link below, you’ll find a list of topics nominated by past Crowdsourced Conversations forum attendees. You are welcome to vote for as many topics as you’d like — but we recommend focusing on the Top 4 that you want to see in next year’s series. Voting is LIVE until the end of the day on Friday, January 5, 2024. The Top 4 vote-getters will become our 2024 Crowdsourced Conversations forum series. 2024 topics will be announced early in the new year. Any questions, connect with Sarah – swolf@futureheights.org. VOTE HERE: https://lnkd.in/eHMPTi-a

Four years ago, we started the Neighborhood Leadership Council (NLC) at Local Motion. It's intention was to create true and just relationships with community leaders who either have or work with folks that have transportation barriers. Throughout it's existence, this has consistently been a group across social identities: women, folks with disabilities, BIPOC folks, and people who are low income. We pay the NLC $25 / hour for up to 10 hours a month for their time, provide childcare and food at our meetings, and transportation to the meetings. The program started at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. We started out doing trainings on transportation equity and organizing and then moved to trying community events. I'm going to be honest, it's been a constant struggle - to create group cohesiveness, to get folks to show up, to keep the group going and motivated. I feel like I've failed them and the program. I've been asking myself these questions lately: ❓How can we get folks to have the self-determination to participate? ❓Is paying folks overshadowing that self-determination? ❓What are the other barriers to participating that we're not seeing? ❓How do we transition from hand-holding to self-ownership? ❓When your house is on fire, how could you possibly have the time and energy to come to a group meeting about advocating for something abstract that might not actually change for years to come? We know that advocating for yourself (and your family, friends, community) is a privilege. How do we, as organizers and community engagement folks, facilitate groups to have voices and ownership over the work? To learn and grow as we do?

Exciting News from the National Community Association (NCA) - We are thrilled to share that the NCA is making significant strides in community development and empowerment across the United States! Our Mission: Empower communities through education, resources, and advocacy, promoting sustainable development and inclusivity. We believe in the power of collaboration and collective action to drive positive change. Join Our Network: Connect with community leaders, businesses, and organizations. Share ideas, collaborate on projects, and be part of a movement that's reshaping community engagement. What's New: - Upcoming Workshops: Join our expert-led sessions on sustainable practices and community leadership. - Advocacy Efforts: We're amplifying community voices in policy-making for equitable and sustainable growth. - Collaborative Projects: Witness how our members are driving impactful community initiatives. We're Inviting You! Become part of a community that values innovation, unity, and resilience. Whether you're an individual passionate about local issues or an organization seeking broader impact, the NCA is your platform for change. Stay Connected: Follow us for the latest updates, success stories, and ways to get involved in community development. Together, let's build a future where every community thrives! #CommunityDevelopment #NCA #Empowerment #Sustainability #InclusiveGrowth #JoinUs #BeTheChange

Learn the the foundational approaches of building relationships; identifying problems and stakeholders; analyzing root causes including racial, class and other systemic injustice; and nurturing community leadership and solidarity. We will explore these methods through small and large group discussion, interactive exercises, and case studies. This training is intended for staff members and community leaders who have little to no experience in community engagement and organizing.

🌟 Struggling with Community Development Challenges? Join Us at the Pathways Symposium 2024! 🌟 ⁉️Are your community development projects falling short of making a lasting impact? ❓️Finding it difficult to create truly inclusive and sustainable initiatives? 🛑You're not alone. Many community leaders and professionals face these hurdles. It can be frustrating to see efforts not fully translating into the desired change, especially when the stakes are so high. 🎉There’s a solution! Join us at the Pathways to Developing Holistic and Inclusive Communities Symposium on May 24, 2024, at Transform GSO in Greensboro, NC. This one-day event is designed to equip you with the strategies, tools, and insights needed to overcome these challenges. Why Attend? ✅️Expert Insights: Learn from top industry leaders like Dr. Shinika McKiever and Timica Melvin, who will share innovative approaches to community audits and strategic planning. ✅️Hands-On Workshops: Engage in interactive sessions that turn theory into practice, ensuring you leave with actionable plans. ✅️Diverse Perspectives: Hear from experts like Dr. Bryle Hatch, Sherea Burnett, and Sofia S. Crisp, offering a rich, multi-faceted view on community development. ✅️Customized Roadmaps: Walk away with a tailored action plan to immediately apply in your community efforts. 🚀 Ready to transform your community development approach? Secure your spot today and lead the change! 👉🏾Register now: https://lnkd.in/euU8h3DS #PathwaysSymposium2024 #CommunityDevelopment #InclusiveCommunities #SustainableGrowth #GreensboroEvents

Explore how cities like Spokane, Kirkland, Auburn, Shoreline, Vancouver, along with the Washington State Patrol and the Port of Seattle, championed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) through pandemic response efforts. 🏙️ AWC's Benita Horn shares insights on how DEIB efforts bolstered community resilience amidst COVID-19 challenges. Dive into this inspiring Cityvision article for more! https://lnkd.in/gMrUqBGg

🌟 Join Maggie Strong at the CEC Conference! 🌟 We are excited to announce that Maggie Strong, a seasoned expert in community planning and public engagement, will be delivering an insightful presentation at the CEC Conference. If you're passionate about fostering inclusive and effective community development, this is a session you won't want to miss! 🎤 Maggie Strong's Approach to Community Engagement: Maggie Strong specializes in helping groups, nonprofits, and communities with strategic planning and needs assessment. Her approach emphasizes the importance of involving a diverse group of people in decision-making to ensure broad participation and authentic information. "We really have to put a lot of legwork into hearing from all types of people in a community in order to get that broad participation and authentic information," Maggie says. "Our goal is to have them be a part of the solution, feeling empowered and engaged from the beginning of the process." In her session, Maggie will share her experiences and strategies for achieving true public engagement, including: - Inclusive Participation: Ensuring all voices are heard, not just the usual participants. Maggie believes in reaching out to a diverse range of community members to get a complete picture. - Empowerment from the Start: Engaging community members early in the process so they feel empowered and see their involvement reflected in the final solutions. - Overcoming Barriers: Moving beyond merely discussing problems to finding actionable solutions. Maggie will introduce tools like compression planning, a visual brainstorming process that fosters fair play and ensures everyone's ideas are considered. - Successful Case Studies: Learn from real-life examples, such as the development of a children's museum, where inclusive engagement led to exceeding expectations and achieving significant milestones. Registrations open May 31. #CECConference2024 #CECFulton #CommunityEngagement #PublicEngagement #RuralDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #EconomicDevelopment #Networking #CommunityBuilding #SmallBusinessSupport

The major challenges facing our organization, include: 1. **Maintaining Engagement and Participation**: Keeping members engaged and active in community activities can be challenging, especially with competing commitments and distractions in people's lives. 2. **Funding and Resource Allocation**: Securing financial resources and proper allocation for various outreach programs and events can be difficult, particularly for smaller groups. 3. **Adapting to Digital Transformation**: Effectively utilizing digital platforms to reach a wider audience, especially in a world increasingly dependent on virtual connections. 4. **Volunteer Management**: Recruiting, training, and retaining dedicated volunteers who align with the group's mission and values. 5. **Addressing Diverse Needs**: Catering to the spiritual and practical needs of a diverse community while maintaining a unified mission and message. 6. **Building Community Relationships**: Establishing and nurturing relationships with other local organizations, churches, and the broader community to enhance impact. 7. **Navigating Social and Cultural Challenges**: Addressing contemporary social issues and cultural changes while staying true to the group's core Christian values. 8. **Measuring Impact**: Developing metrics and methods to assess the effectiveness and impact of their initiatives in fostering spiritual growth and community support. These challenges require strategic planning, adaptability, and continuous community engagement to overcome.

📢 Attention Richmond, IN 📍 Would you like to help groups make collective decisions, discuss complex issues, or effectively plan events, projects, or programs? If yes, this program is for you. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wp2tNQ Register here: https://bit.ly/3wsYGz6 #PurdueExtension #communitydevelopment #communitydevelopment #cdext #FacilitativeLeadership #EffectiveLeadership