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Top of pageEngaging Citizens in the Community
Strong communities recognize the need for, value of, and strength in a broad and inclusive engaged citizenry. There are major benefits of an involved citizenry in a community’s decision making processes. Implementing a strategy to achieve this will take time and likely be challenged by individuals and organizations. The following are important points to consider.
Being part of an action group working on a community-defined project can be extremely rewarding. It can also present many challenges, including those related to leadership, communication and/or coordination, resource development and planning. In light of all the challenges, the following are important points to consider.
When implementing an asset mapping activity in your community, the following are important points to consider.
Developing a sense of community is a challenging long-term endeavor, requiring the hard work of many people. To develop and/or strengthen sense of community, the following are important points to consider.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of many communities. Many communities address issues and accomplish tasks solely using volunteer help. Often, projects, events and activities wouldn’t happen without the time, commitment and support of volunteers. To sustain and expand the volunteer base in a community, the following are important points to consider.
Information on how to facilitate communication in your community in order for citizens to become more involved.
In many communities across the country, the majority of citizens are not engaged in the decision making processes in their communities. Though aptly illustrated by the current historically low percentage of individuals voting in national, state, and local elections, the issue goes much deeper than voting. Though they are often active volunteers in community organizations, many community members feel powerless
when it comes to the decisions made that directly affect their lives. They want elected officials and administrators to listen to their concerns, to share the power and responsibility of governance, and to help develop a sense of belonging to the community.
In many communities across the country, the majority of citizens aren’t engaged in the decision ?making processes in their communities. Though aptly illustrated by the current historically low percentage of individuals voting in national, state, and local elections, the issue goes much deeper than voting.
Effective leadership, open communication, coordination of efforts, celebration and participatory planning are just a few elements of healthy communities. The same principles apply to effective action groups working on community defined projects.
Community assets are the physical and non?physical resources in a community used to improve the quality of community life. They can be anything from people to places to organizations. Any community asset can be applied to a community project. Assets are easily forgotten if they aren’t written down and accessible to project leaders. To avoid this, mapping community assets is the practice of identifying, listing and analyzing these resources for use in community building work.
A sense of community is an intangible yet vital component of a healthy community. It encompasses elements such as image, spirit, character and pride, along with processes such as communication, inter?group relations, and networking. In many communities across the nation, people are losing their sense of community. With current trends of out migration, sprawl, rural?flight, urban decay, and increased mobility, many community members do not feel strongly connected to their communities.
Today, many communities are managed in large part by volunteers. Volunteers hold elected positions in government, lead and run community boards and organizations, operate fire departments, raise funds for schools, and are stewards of a community’s natural resources. The time, energy and resources they bring are critical to the community’s existence. As financial and paid human resources are allocated to address complex and critical community issues, volunteer resources step in to fill the gap. More and more in rural communities, volunteers are the lifeblood of a community’s day ?to?day functioning.
UNH Cooperative Extension is pleased to partner with University of Missouri Extension to bring basic community development skills and training to New Hampshire.
Written by UNH Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners.
Developing effective communication in your community takes time and the involvement, commitment and support of key individuals and organizations. However, the results will be worth it for all members. The following are important points to consider.
Aids decision-makers in evaluating both the positive and negative environmental impacts of potential projects.
Website containing raw GIS data and other online tools for mapping of natural resources and other community resources in New Hampshire.
The Great Bay Nitrogen Sources Newsletter provides science-based information on non-point sources of Nitrogen to local decision-makers, resource managers, organizations, and the public. This newsletter is the result of a National Estuarine Research Reserve-funded project aimed at generating a clear understanding of which sources of nitrogen, under which land use conditions, pose the greatest threat to Great Bay's water quality, since nitrogen levels in Great Bay have increased significantly in recent years.
COMMUNITY BUILDING; EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION
Ideas for Action
COMMUNITY BUILDING
ENGAGING CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY BUILDING
HELPING ACTION GROUPS SUCCEED
COMMUNITY BUILDING
MAPPING COMMUNITY ASSETS
COMMUNITY BUILDING
STRENGTHENING SENSE OF COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY BUILDING
WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS
PowerPoint Presentation by Molly Donovan - NH Office of Energy and Planning Planning & Zoning Conference May 11, 2013
Local Leadership
Workshop information describing Basic Facilitation Skills and Strengthening your Facilitation Skills intended to provide new skills for facilitating community meetings and working with coalitions and collaborations.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Visioning and Planning
A cost of community services (COCS) study is a type of fiscal impact analysis that determines the fiscal impact of current land uses on a municipality’s budget.
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