enviroissues: connecting with your community
DESCRIPTION
Connecting with Your Community: How People Want to Engage in and with Projects.A presentation to the IAP2 Cascade ChapterBy Mandy Putney / EnviroIssuesTRANSCRIPT
IAP2
September 28, 2011
CONNECTING WITH YOUR COMMUNITYHOW PEOPLE WANT TO ENGAGE IN AND WITH PROJECTS
EnviroIssues
20 years helping leaders make decisions that last
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20 years – celebrate and keep learning
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Why do people get involved?
Do people really want to be involved?
How can I reach new people?
What do they know that I don’t?
Is it worth it to do a mailer?
Do people still read The Paper?
Questions, questions, questions
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Enough is enough – or is it?
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How do you know you need to engage the public?
What are the risks?
How much is too much, or not enough?
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Research questions
• What is the state of public involvement today?
• Are people satisfied?
• What role does public involvement play in
decision making?
• How do people want to be involved?
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People want to be engaged
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• High satisfaction
• Interested in becoming even
more involved
– Young people, 18-34
– Men and women under 45
– Rural areas
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Key ingredients
www.wordle.net
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I’m the decider . . . right?
• Decision makers should:
– Keep you informed, but it is their
job to decide what is best for our
communities
– Listen and respond to concerns,
and incorporate the public’s
advice when feasible
– Listen to and carry out what the
public recommends 9
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• “I don’t know how to get
involved”
– 25-34 year olds
– Hispanics
– Rural women
– Lower income
– High school educated
Pueden escucharme ahora?
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Beyond the usual cast of characters
• Reaching new people or
those you really need to
reach
– Be explicit (how, why)
– Understanding motivations
– Honing messages
– Customizing tools
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Our attitudes and viewpoints change as we age.
So do our motivations and interests.
Ages and stages
Challenging Times
• 18 to 24 year olds (+13 pts)
Make a Difference
• 25 to 34 year olds (+10 pts)
Responsibility
• 35 to 44 year olds (+9 pts)
Frustration
• 45 to 59 year olds (+5 pts)
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20% 17% 23% 30%
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Understanding other motivations
Why do people get involved?
To Improve Quality of Life (40%)Democrats: 59%
Rural Women: 53%
City Residents: 49%
Women Under 45: 49%
Multnomah County: 46%
College Grads: 45%
Project Impacts Finances (22%)Republicans: 35%
High School Grads: 29%
45 to 59 year olds: 26%
Metro Portland Men: 26%
Rural Residents: 26%
Project is Near Home (20%)25 to 34 year olds: 28%
Under 45 Men 26%
Pierce County: 25%
Republicans: 25%
Idaho Residents: 24%
Rural Women: 24%
Project Impacts Work (7%)18 to 24 year olds 14%
Men Under 45 14%
Metro Portland Men 12%
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The message matters
• Honing your message will engage more people
– First understand motivations
– Link motivations to your challenges
– Include a clear benefit
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A message needs a place to go
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60%
56%
39%
34%
18%
57%
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Can you reach your audience online?
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83% of those surveyed have internet
access at home
83% in rural areas
77% of non-whites
69% of high school graduates
68% of those with a HH income of $25-35,000/year
68% of those 60+ years old
80% in Portland Metro area
Alignment with IAP2 core values
• Those who are affected by the decision were
involved in the decision-making process.
– Validated by our research.
• The public’s contribution influenced the decision.
– Public say in outcome is strong predictor of satisfaction with process.
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Alignment with IAP2 core values
• The decision was sustainable, and recognized
and communicated the needs and interests of all
participants, including decision makers.
– Blend of participant and decision maker input preferred
• The involvement of those potentially affected by
or interested in the decision was sought out and
facilitated.
– Tools to achieve engagement identified18
Alignment with IAP2 core values
• Information provided to participants supported
meaningful participation.
– Direct information is predictor of successful process.
• Participants were informed abut how their input
affected the decision.
– Use effective channels to distribute this information.
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Thank you
1515 SW Fifth Ave, Suite 1022
Portland, OR 97214
503-248-9500
www.enviroissues.com
@EnviroIssues
Mandy Putney
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PORTLAND SEATTLE TACOMA BOISE RICHLAND