Grassroots and Groundwork

Community-Builder Institute

This half-day program features two powerful, interactive workshops with proven community processes and activities for reducing long-term poverty. At our 2006 conference, the workshops were filled to capacity. Pre-registration is required, so don’t wait to reserve your spot.

Inclusive Decision Making

The success of a poverty-reduction initiative and community revitalization effort depends on creating a shared vision for the community. Yet getting diverse groups around the table to decide on significant goals and plans is not simple, nor is it easy. This workshop provides the framework and tools to design an inclusive decision-making process and build more resilient relationships in a community. It is designed for individuals and organizations planning a project with diverse stakeholders, where managing group dynamics and facilitating effective participation is crucial.

Participants will receive a step-by-step engagement planning process guide, sample engagement planning documents, case studies, a book of engagement tools and a CD-ROM with software for customizing a community’s engagement process.

Identifying and Developing Community Assets

Community assets are the building blocks of community and economic development. They include tangible resources, such as objects and places, as well as intangible aspects, such as people’s attitudes and skills. Some assets are easy to identify; others may go unnoticed or are undervalued. In this interactive session, participants will work in teams using various tools and worksheets to identify and develop assets in a community.

Participants will receive a handbook of the session’s tools and worksheets – including asset mapping and a model for categorizing assets – to take back and apply to their own community. Participants can use ideas in the handbook to develop a strategy that leverages assets wisely for the benefit of all residents, building community prosperity.

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