Day 2 @ the Learning Exchange

Everyday Democracy executive director Martha McCoy posted this in the comments at the end of Day 1 of the Communities Creating Racial Equity Learning Exchange:

We had a good day of sharing yesterday (as Julie's posts and comments of others capture)... today will be an exciting day of building on the energy and momentum we've begun.

Looking forward to another day of deep learning. Amazing to see the commitment to racial equity in the room.

This makes me think of the energy and diversity that will be at Everyday Democracy's national conference in June.... this is just a more intense, specifically oriented learning community here this week.

I plan to live blog in the comments throughout today, then we'll put up a photo gallery and "takeaway" thread later today or tomorrow for participants to record your top impressions and/or goals from this week's sharing. Your comments are welcome below this post, too.

And if Martha's comment about our national meeting (planned for June 12-14 in Denver) piques your interest, you can get more information here.

On to Day 2!

Comments

[Julie Fanselow]

We kicked off today with a fun sorting exercise in which we counted off by eights and sat at tables to discover "10 Things We Have in Common."

Some examples: "We all have dryers that eat one sock," "We've all had family members who've been arrested," "We all know someone who's been touched by cancer," and - the winning group, by applause, "We're all shallow."

[Julie Fanselow]

Small groups are now gathered to discuss key challenges in organizing and sustaining community dialogue-to-action programs, including:

Recruiting hard-to-reach participants

Strengthening the organizing coalition

Communications, marketing, and media

Action teams: leadership, structure, getting things done

Working with government and public officials (a reminder here - don't miss our next water cooler live blog on this very topic, set for 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern Thursday, May 15 here at DemSpace)

Long-term sustainability and community support

[Julie Fanselow]

Recruiting the hard to reach ...

FOOD is always good to get people to events

Children's activities/child care

Translation for people speaking different languages, so all points of view heard and understood

"Who's making the ask?" Look for trusted voices, community leaders, "the right people."

Get away from calling it a meeting. Make it an event. Get some action involved from the start.

Go beyond the "usual suspects" to reach out to groups and individuals who don't always get asked.

[Julie Fanselow]

Strengthening organizing coalitions:

Involve less-active members.

Define the coalition - explain exactly what you want people to do and how you want them to be involved.

Develop mission statements for action teams.

Celebrate small achievements.

Create achievable benchmarks.

[Julie Fanselow]

Working with government and public officials:

Develop relationships. Help them see citizen engagement as being in their best interests.

Link the work we are doing to their image and electability. Officials are almost always running, since many are on two-year terms.

Large-scale community projects like visioning can show that people want this work to move forward.

Be strategic about what you want to accomplish and who can help.

This process really does change officials and the way they lead, so encourage them to keep at it.

Leaders want to rub elbows with other leaders. Of course, we believe EVERYONE is a potential leader, but by crafting groups that include key leaders, it'll create ripple effects.

Find open windows ... or look for the govt offices where the window is open a crack and slip in.

Help citizens see that it is important to vote, and if you don't vote, you're giving away your power (to counter officials' statements about how "That community doesn't vote ..."

[Julie Fanselow]

Communications/marketing/media:

Have a consistent plan to get message out to the community.

Bring together affinity groups.

One thing that doesn't work: Silence. Whether it's word of mouth, calls, emails, get the word out.

Have fun. Duck races, bike rides, etc.

[Julie Fanselow]

Action teams:

Who's around the table, and what skills do they bring?

Get info on alternative multicultural methods of moving to action.

Communicate with existing programs.

Identify groups that need to be involved and recruit them.

[Julie Fanselow]

Long-term sustainability and community support:

Go beyond talk ... move into action.

Action requires different skill sets than organizing and facilitating.

Get the right political leadership to the table.

Look for the strategies, tools, and people who have the ability to do this process work.

Do a World Cafe around action strategies.

http://www.theworldcafe.com/

[Julie Fanselow]

Kudos to the Lynchburg crew who created a logic model over Indian food in Hartford last night. What's a logic model?
There's information here:

http://www.evaluationtoolsforracialequity.org/evaluation/tip/index.htm

[Julie Fanselow]

How can we stay in touch with each other?

Beth Broadway of Syracuse suggested regional conferences and day trips for communities that are within driving distance of one another.

Yiota Ahladas from Burlington would like to receive email lists from other groups.

Post community milestones on website, blog, etc.

Webinars ...

Internal email list ...

Send post cards to one another. Send Flat Stanley around to various communities.

http://www.flatstanley.com/

[Julie Fanselow]

The community teams are going to meet until noon to discuss next steps ... some are heading outside because it's been so NICE here.

We'll get reports just before lunch, and then we'll be done.