Material Place
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place
As statistics across time and place attest, a well-planned community forum can be a powerful tool to educate and organize. That’s why we design engagement initiatives for the most effective forums in our communities. Acts of self-acknowledgment inspire others.
Ourself, behind ourself concealed
Should startle most
The following timeline and the information within serve as sets of guidelines to structure said initiatives.
March — May (92 days)
Coordination of community forums including advertising and agreement with site location.
- Research, find, visit and inspect potential meeting spaces. Ask questions about the facility and surrounding neighborhoods. Work with members of your target audience to determine what might be an appropriate meeting space.
- Pick a meeting space that is convenient for your target audience to get to (e.g., near public transportation).
- Find a meeting space that is well known to your target audience (e.g., space in a popular downtown area). Choose a meeting space in an accessible, safe, well-lit area.
Develop a community forum agenda, a focus group guide and facilitation of community forums.
- Identify and articulate the goals of the forum: what do you want to accomplish with the forum (e.g., educate community members about an issue, inform community members about available services, etc.)? What essential messages and relevant facts do you want the audience to take away from the forum?
- What will be the format of the forum (e.g. will there be a panel discussion, can the forum be made more interactive so that it better engages the target audience, etc.)?
- Find and speak with community leaders/members/organizations to collaborate with for assessing needs/wants, broader appeal, higher visibility, more resources, etc. Have community members/organizers do outreach on their own.
Complete 2 or more community forums.
- Include speakers known to/respected/members of your target audience.
- Pick up sign-in sheets and feedback form.
June — August (92 days)
Survey design, collection and analysis.
- Integrate data gathered about your target audience in forum topics (e.g., data gathered from focus groups, street polls, surveys).
Final report including analysis of community forums, survey results and list of recommendations based on community forums and survey.
- To strengthen the voice of all community members, including those who couldn’t attend the forums, the final report should include policy analysis, legal assistance, strategic planning, and community organizing support, building a diverse and strong community network.
