I am including these tips because many of us peers are given the task to develop partnerships in the community and we are the catalysts for developing recovery-oriented partnerships. I must confess knowing how to do this is entirely another matter. I am seeking to educate myself and I wanted to pass that information to other peers as they are wrestling with how to develop effective strategies for outreach and community engagement
Adapted from "Healthy People in Healthy Communities: A Dialogue Guide" by Tyler Norris and Lynde Howell with help from the local, state, and national partners of The Coalition for Healthier Cities and Communities, 1 North Franklin, Chicago, IL 60606. The Coalition for Healthier Cities and Communities is a Community Tool Box partner.
A community dialogue can help:
- EXPAND the base of constituencies and voices (i.e. youth, business, the faith community, grassroots leaders)
- REACH common ground -- integrate the workings of more formal institutions and partnerships with the leadership from neighborhoods and grassroots groups
- SURFACE common issues and the resources to address them -- help identify barriers to positive change and uncover innovative ideas
- SUSTAIN ongoing community discussion between the many groups and partnerships in a community
- BUILD the capacity of your group to act on its ideas
- LAUNCH new initiatives and strengthen the impact of existing community improvement partnerships
- FOCUS corporate and organizational investment towards community benefit -- align communities' policies and resource allocation with what creates health
- BREAK THROUGH community "turf wars" and connect fragmented resources -- build the public consensus and commitment necessary to generate action for better outcomes
- STIMULATE action and track progress for accountability
- GENERATE local media attention
- HELP leaders of all sectors to see their roles in building healthy, sustainable communities
- BE A PART -- vocal and visible -- of the nationwide healthy communities movement
Where can a dialogue occur?
- At school
- At kitchen tables
- In the workplace
- At community centers
- In neighborhoods
- In places of worship
- At service club meetings (i.e. Rotary, Lions, Junior League, sororities and fraternities)
- In meetings of existing partnerships
- In board rooms
- In the halls of government
Who can participate or host the dialogue?
Every citizen has a role to play in building community and creating health. The vitality of our communities and democracy relies upon the active participation of every person. Anyone can participate in a dialogue. Seek diversity! Reach across lines of race, culture, class, and locale to gather participants.
Anyone can convene and host a "healthy community" conversation:
- Neighborhood leaders
- Youth
- Business people
- Public health and medical care professionals
- Faith leaders
- Seniors
- Homemakers
- Educators
- Community organizers
This is a helpful checklist for beginning community dialogue. You can add to this list and use it as a springboard to develop your own.
Preparing for a Community Dialogue:
___You focus your issue (e.g., safe water, living wages, diversity)
___You build a dialogue team to host the event
___You determine your goals for the dialogue (e.g., to reach common ground, launch new initiatives, generate media coverage, etc.) and design the session to support them
___You decide who will participate
___You select and prepare your facilitator
___You set a place, date and time for your dialogue
___You designate someone to record the dialogue
___You create an inviting environment
___You invite participants
Conducting the Dialogue:
___You greet participants and introduce the facilitator
___You establish ground rules for the dialogue as well as a relaxed atmosphere
___You use the seven questions to foster dialogue
___You monitor the group process
___You allow time for closing dialogue and any follow-up steps
___You engage the media and document the event if consistent with your goals
Making Your Dialogue Count:
___You record your findings and get results to participants and relevant organizations within ten days
___You follow up with the group on its interests
___You keep the conversation going
Give me some feedback and let me know if you find information like this helpful. I am also considering how some of this information is helpful as a framework for collaboration among peers as we begin the wonderful work of communicating and sharing our interests and hearts together across North Carolina.
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