community engagement: you can do it! randy dykhuis michelle bradley september 18, 2015
TRANSCRIPT
Community Engagement: You CAN
do it!Randy Dykhuis
Michelle BradleySeptember 18, 2015
What would it take for you to have a bigger impact on your community?
• More money?
• A bigger building in a better location?
• More staff?
Ann Marie SmithPickford Community Library
Knox County Public Library• “Close the Book on
Hunger”• Community conversations
with local disabilities group led to tactile art exhibits and descriptive DVDs
• Historic preservation award for Carnegie renovation—paint color selection was based on community input
East 38th St. Branch--IPL “ASK probing questions to determine TRUE needs” Shanika Heyward, Branch Manager
• STEM based storytimes
• Breakfast with a cop
• Mobile food pantry• Job Center
Red Hook, NY Public Library
Engaged the community using tools from the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and learned:• Not everyone could get to the programs at
the library• There was a need to create leadership and
volunteer opportunities for teens.
Designed a "mobile maker program" and formed new partners
Turning Outward
“Turning Outward makes the community and the people the reference point for getting things done.”
Outreach
Aspirations
Public Knowledge
TransportationSafe Neighborhoods
Education
Ask ExerciseAspirations TreeAspirations BoardAspirations ExerciseCommunity Conversations—
going deeperInnovation SpaceCommunity Engagement
Roundtables
Tools You CAN Use
A one-on-one 3-5 minute conversationQ1: What kind of community do you want to live in?Q2: Why is that important to you?Q3: How is that different from how you see things now?Q4: What are some of the things that need to happen to create that kind of change?
Ask Exercise
• Your turn to talk• Take a few minutes to talk
with those around you about your aspirations for your community
Aspirations
• Now that you have identified some aspirations, what are the challenges that stand in the way of accomplishing them?
• Take a few minutes to discuss in the same group
Challenges and concerns
• What did you learn?• Any insights from your discussions?
Report out:
Create a story
Identify themes
90 minute conversations
10 questions
8-12 people
Community Conversations
People want (aspirations) , but they’re concerned that (main concerns). As people talk more about those concerns they talk specifically about (specific issue(s)). They believe we need to focus on (actions) and if (groups) played a part in those actions that folks would be more likely to trust the effort and step forward.
Community Narrative
Aspirations Tree
Aspirations
Aspirations
• Regularly scheduled conversations that bring different departments together to focus on what you’re learning as an organization and how to use what you’re learning to create change.
• The goal is learning and innovation—not planning• Make attendance voluntary
Innovation Space
• Imagine your community transformed• Invite your community to share aspirations• Invest in the process• Initiate change
Take the journey with us
Community Engagement
Roundtables---share successes, seek advice, get ideas
Community Engagement Support
Harwood/ALA Public Innovators Lab. Detroit, MI October 14-16
Libraries Transforming Communities—Free tools and webinars from ALA
http://www.ala.org/transforminglibraries/libraries-transforming-communities
More Information
Questions?