Methods and Techniques for Community Engagement

In the City of Minneapolis

Key Concepts

Educate and

Inform

Information

Gathering

Discuss and

Involve

Partner/Collaborate Authorize/

Support Local

Initiatives Objective Objective Objective Objective Objective

To provide the

public with

balanced and

objective

information to assist

them in

understanding the

problem,

alternative, issue or

solutions. Giving

information or

education to

stakeholders.

To seek or obtain

public feedback on

issues, analysis,

alternatives or

decisions. To better

understand

expectations in

respect to

engagement efforts.

Listening and

soliciting advice or

information from

stakeholders.

To work directly

with the public

throughout the

process to insure

that public and

private concerns

are consistently

addressed and

understood. This

involves both

giving and

receiving

information

between

stakeholders and

departments.

To partner with the

public in each aspect of

the decision including the

development of

alternatives and the

identification of a

preferred solution. This

goes beyond merely

sharing information to

activity working together

to find solutions.

To place final

decision making in

the hands of

specific community

organizations or

identified

community groups.

This level seldom

takes place. It

places final decision

making and

responsibility in the

hands of

stakeholders.

Levels of Engagement

Levels of Participation

Group Techniques

Small Group < 20 people

Refer to Appendix 1

Group Techniques

Large Group > 20 people

Target Marketing

1.Decide on profile

2.Identify key variables

3.Identify best method to

reach your target

Target Market

Refer to Stakeholders in Step 7 of the

Process Model Guidebook

AIDA

Attention

Interest

Decision

Action

Level 1: Educate and Inform

Common

Methods

Printed materials

Media briefings

Radio and television

announcements

Newspaper announcements

Simple or Slick

Enhanced Methods

1. Partnering

• Association of Metropolitan School Districts

• Communities of Color Institute for Organizational

Leadership

and Development

• Faculty of Aboriginal and Islander Studies, University of

South

Australia International Research Institute for Maori and

Indigenous Education

• University of Auckland McKnight Foundation

• Minneapolis Urban League

• Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning

• McKnight Foundation

• National Community Reinvestment Coalition

• Urban Coalition

Community Partnerships at the

University of Minnesota HHH

Center

Can you share some from the City?

Enhanced Methods

1. Partnering

2. Advertisements and Flyers

• Videos

• Press Releases

• Banners

• Posters

Note:The Communications Department can help with

some enhanced methods of communication

Communication Department

Publication Process

1. Departments fill out the online form: Publication Evaluation

Form on the Web (in the Work Tools section of CityTalk) that

contains important information for Com. department to create

and decide what type of publication they need.

2. Departments send an email to Com. department with the raw information customers need to receive.

3. Com. department creates a publication, rewrites the info,

makes it appealing, etc.

4. Once the written portion is acceptable to both parties then it

goes to the Design/Layout staff for layout of the publication.

What Really Works!

Personal Contact

High Profile Leaders

Elected Officials

Putting a Face on the

Effort

What Ideas Can You Share?

Level 2: Information Gathering

Common Methods

•Surveys

•Questionnaires

•Focus Groups

•Interviews

•Brainstorming

•Public Meetings

Refer to Appendix 2

Enhanced Methods

•Websites

•Nominal Group Technique

•Delphi Technique

•SWOT Analysis

•SpeakOuts

Websites

•Blogs

•Chat Groups

•Web Forums

•Message Boards

Current interactive tools from Council Members:

-Ward 2 – councilmember Gordon’s Blog:

-http://secondward.blogspot.com/2006/12/community-engagement-report.html

- Also, other council members have newsletters you can read at:

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ (main page – point to the left and click on

each Council Member’s webpage)

Current City’s interactive tools:

1) http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ check the drop down menu: “Tell the

City about” and “How do I”

2) Online services through 311

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/311/online-services.asp

Companies that offer interactive citizen participation tools (online):

1) Neighborhood America (IBM) – Manage public comment:

http://www.neighborhoodamerica.com/

2) Civic Communicator (Civic Mind Media) www.civiccommunicator.com

3) Minnesota e-democracy: www.e-democracy.org (also has online forums

for Minneapolis and St Paul.

Nominal Group Technique

•A relative of brainstorming

•Allows more involvement

•Cuts down intimidation

•Minimum interaction

Delphi Technique

• First used to draw predictions

• Highly interactive

• Allows more in-depth analysis

• Takes time

• Very good for consensus

building

The Delphi Technique should not be used

to move meetings to preset conclusions.

SWOT Analysis

•S for strengths

•W for weaknesses

•O for opportunities

•T for threats

SWOT Analysis

•Form small groups of 4-5

•Define key action item

•Create a SWOT matrix

•Prioritize the top three in each

quadrant

SWOT Matrix

SWOT Matrix

Using post-its to build a SWOT

SpeakOuts

A SpeakOut is used in any community planning

process and can be organized at the start of a

process — to introduce a community to a project

and generate early enthusiasm and participation —

or at the end of a process to ‘test’ material

generated in other consultation processes and

‘wrap up’ a substantial consultation phase. The

applications of SpeakOuts are really only limited by

one’s imagination, as it can be tailored to a number

of issues and to a range of communities.

From: Dr. Wendy Sarkissian: Speaking Out in Community Engagement:

A Review of Fifteen Years of Refinement of the SpeakOut Model

Some common and key features:

A SpeakOut is organized around local issues. Typically, a

SpeakOut is structured into a number of ‘issue stalls’

which relate to findings of earlier consultations and to the

specific project goals. So, for example, in an urban

renewal project, the issue stalls may be organized as

follows:

• Registration

• Getting around (transport)

• Arts and culture

• Housing

• Retail and shops

• Rest, relaxation and recreation

• Community safety

• What is important to children

• What is important to young people

• How to get involved.

Level 5: Support Local Initiatives

Common

Methods

Participate in neighborhood meetings

Provide resources to neighborhoods

Provide resources to schools

Other examples?

Questions and

Comments

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