Don't Engage the Public... Before You've Answered These Six Questions
Skillful Engagement Series
2018, Community Building, Skillful Engagement
Public participation is increasingly becoming the norm for government decision-making. More engagement, however, doesn’t necessarily translate into higher satisfaction with the process and outcomes among communities and decision-makers. Oftentimes, this is because their needs and expectations are not aligned or communicated well enough.
This interactive workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to explore key characteristics of highly effective public engagement, such as engaging diverse audiences, creating conditions for informed judgement, and using dialogue to bridge differences in perspectives.
Using case studies, scenario exercises, and industry best practices, the session will provide an opportunity to road-test six strategic questions that can help increase the effectiveness of engagement initiatives and meet the expectations of sponsors and participants:
- What is the engagement question?
- What are you trying to achieve and what will make the engagement meaningful to the public?
- How will your decisions affect communities?
- What level of engagement are you promising the public?
- Who does your engagement initiative need to reach?
- How are you planning to follow through?
2:00 p.m. (PT)
Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue
580 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver
Room 320
Skillful Engagement Series
Skillful Engagement is a community of practice for engagement practitioners. The series showcases innovative projects and speakers, provides a forum to share knowledge and challenges, and acts as a catalyst to inspire and support the growing engagement sector. This work reflects a shared understanding that improved engagement of communities, organizations and stakeholders leads to better decisions and stronger, more resilient outcomes.
Skillful Engagement is a partnership between the SFU Centre for Dialogue’s Civic Engage Program, SFU Public Square, and SFU’s Dialogue and Civic Engagement Certificate program.
On this Page
Sebastian Merz
Project Manager
SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
Robin Prest
Program Director
SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
Partners
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Don't Engage the Public... Before You've Answered These Six Questions
This interactive workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to explore key characteristics of highly effective public engagement. Using case studies, scenario exercises, and industry best practices, the session will provide an opportunity to road-test six strategic questions that can help increase the effectiveness of engagement initiatives and meet the expectations of sponsors and participants.
Read More →
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Cultivating Trust: An X Factor for Effectiveness
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Evaluating Engagement: Exploring Principles-Focused Evaluation
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Design Thinking for Facilitators
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Engaging Across Differences with Natasha Aruliah and Suzanne Hawkes
In this 3-hour workshop you'll learn about the key, practical questions to ask at the outset of any skillful engagement initiative to ensure a more inclusive process and outcomes. Facilitators Natasha Aruliahand and Suzanne Hawkes will share several brief case studies and best practices and draw on the wisdom and specific challenges of participants in a rich, highly interactive dialogue.
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