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civic engagement
Progressive nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and enlightened businesses have come to realize the importance of working together to understand and address common issues in order to support informed decisionmaking and the successful development and implementation of policies and programs. But all too often, those who gather to participate, share experiences, and provide their opinions and suggestions reflect particular biases, life experiences, and comfort with particular community or public formats. And while it is through such engagement that individuals and communities are empowered to make positive social change, the voices of many are often lost or absent in these processes. The absence of these voices does not necessarily signify consent or pleasure with decisions made by those who do participate.
FTA helps organizations design and implement unique and creative approaches to community involvement – maximizing participation and involvement of the broadest possible public, and ensuring that the efforts to engage communities are appropriate to the populations. FTA begins all community engagement with a comprehensive assessment of the particular issues, attitudes, and traditions that define the community. Based on this information, multi-faceted processes are designed to meet the particular participation needs of diverse populations, and tools are created to support these processes. Additionally, a thoughtful outreach plan is enacted utilizing both media and grassroots efforts. From small house meetings to town halls, the voices of those often described as “disenfranchised,” merge with those whose opinions are commonplace at city halls and government arenas.
By actively partnering with their communities, nonprofit organizations and government agencies create effective and sustainable policies and programs that are supported by communities. Perhaps more important, this conveys a respect for community that encourages people to continue to participate in the shaping of policies and programs, and paves the way for long-term relationships between and among organizations and communities. Such engagement is both symbiotic and mutually beneficial.
It is through this commitment to the importance and value of the voices of communities that Fern Tiger Associates supports and promotes both a heightened sense of responsibility among individuals on behalf of their communities and a more democratic world. |
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