Making Change: Facilitating Community Action

Description

Every community has issues or opportunities that need to be addressed. The expert knowledge of community members could be the key to creating lasting change. By making community members into facilitators, Making Change: Facilitating Community Action suggests they can guide community members through the process of making change and to help them determine their goals and methods. The aim of this book is to enable facilitators to identify concerns and address, enable and foster change at the local level through effective facilitation. This book follows a six-stage model for creating change. Beginning with issue awareness, it continues through getting to know the team they are working with, seeking information on the issue and community, through facilitating the planning and community development through evaluation. This book focuses on the human side of the change process while also teaching the practical skills necessary for individuals to reach their goal. Making Change is for people interested in making change to improve their community, including students, community activists, local government and educational leaders. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Brief Contents Contents List of Tables and Figures Acknowledgments Preface Stage 1 Issue Awareness 1 The Beginning What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Beginning a Change What These Concepts Are About Participation Responsibility Changing Conditions Spectrum of Attitudes The Facilitation of Change Model Try It! Summary Citations 2 Reflect, Observe and Wonder Abstract What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Reflecting, Observing and Wondering What This Technique Is About The Importance of Reflection Making Observations Wondering How to Carry Out Observing and Noticing Techniques Try It! Observing Your Community Summary Citations 3 Detours What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Activity Traps and Finding Your Way Through the Maze What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Citations Stage 2 Getting to Know You What’s in This Section What This Section is About 4 Reflective Facilitation What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Reflection: Race Unity Conversation What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique Journaling Buttons and Biases Social Biases Can Be Either Implicit or Explicit Before the Meeting: Clear a Mental Space During the Meeting: Provide Neutral Guidance After the Meeting: Debriefing Try It Summary Citations 5 Calling the First and Subsequent Meetings What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Calling a First Meeting What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique First Steps for a Facilitator How to Call the First Meeting Calling Subsequent Meetings Try It! Summary Citations 6 Recruit and Retain Volunteers What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Recruiting Volunteers What This Technique Is About Volunteer Service Characteristics of Volunteers Life Stages Gender, Marital, Parental and Educational Status Motivations Recruiting Volunteers Recruiting Strategies Retaining Volunteers Making Doers Out of the Supporters How to Carry Out This Technique Social Media Personal Invitation Retention Try It! Summary Resources Citations 7 Clearing Mental Space for Facilitation What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Preparing to Facilitate What This Technique Is About Mindfulness for Facilitators How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Citations 8 Building Rapport and Unity What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Creating Your Own Dream Team What This Technique Is About What “Ice” Isolates People From Each Other? I-to-We How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Citations Stage 3 Information Seeking 9 Mental Models and Frameworks What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Mental Models What This Technique Is About Identify Your Group’s Mental Models How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Citations 10 Spectrum of Attitudes What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Attitudes Toward Beneficiaries of Change Viewing People as Resources What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique Examine the Spectrum of Attitudes with Your Group Set Up Your Protocol Try It! Summary Citations 11 What’s Happening Now? What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About What’s Happening Now and Desired Outcomes What This Technique Is About Brainstorm “What’s Happening Now” Root Causes SWOT Analysis: Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Choose High-Priority, High-Yield Issues Locating and Establishing Indicators How to Carry Out This Technique “What’s Happening Now” Method 1 for Small Groups “What’s Happening Now” Method 2 for Large Groups Try It! Summary Citations 12 Visioning What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story: Situational Blindness What This Technique Is About Small-Scale Visioning Large-Scale Visioning A Hunger-Free St. Michael Parish How to Carry Out This Technique Brainstorming: Gathering the Wisdom of the Group Brainstorming Methods Recharging a Group That Is Stuck OK, Now What? Try It! Summary Citations 13 Change Resistance and Readiness What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Change Readiness: Open Housing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 1968 What This Technique Is About Types of Change Individuals and Change Resistance Resilience Opposition Community Readiness The Change Timeline Readiness Levels Making Plans How to Carry Out This Technique Collecting Readiness Data Analyzing Qualitative Data From Interviews or Surveys Try It! Summary Citations 14 Wondering and Hypothesis Testing What’s in This Chapter Objectives A Story About Reading in Prison What This Technique Is About Clarifying the Problem Hypothesis Contributing Factors The Fishbone Diagram Indicators Searching for Data on Indicators Hypothesis Testing Action Steps How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Citations 15 Planning Perspectives What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Planning Perspectives What This Technique Is About Grids and Units of Change Focus on Outcomes and Conditions Purpose The Four Action Quadrants How to Carry Out This Technique An Example Try It! Summary Citations 16 Force Field Analysis: Upsetting the Equilibrium What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Analysis: A Skateboarder’s Solution What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique An Example Try It! Exercise #1 Exercise #2 Summary Citations 17 Identifying the Play and the Players in a Community What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story: Maurine Plays a Columbo Role in a New Project What This Technique Is About Identifying the Community, Their Cultures and Values Who Needs to Be Aware of the Plan? Key Members Who Has Influence in the Community? Who Is “Outside” the Community? How to Gather the Information Identifying the Play The Community Description How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Citations 18 Getting Grounded: Collecting Data Together What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Data Collection Local Data Collection Conclusion What This Technique Is About Why Collaborate? Principles of Collecting Data Together Acquiring Research Partners Sustaining Partnerships Conducting Participatory Data Gathering and Evaluation Data Collection Sharing Findings and Decisions With the Team Sharing the Findings With the Community How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Resources Citations Stage 4 Facilitation of Planning 19 Getting Started on Planning for Change What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story: Conversation for Race Unity Step 1: Seeking Allies for Awareness-Building and Information-Sharing Step 2: Networking for Organizational and Community Resources Step 3: Cooperative Creation of New Resources What These Techniques Are About Review Your Research SWOT Analysis Perspectives, Paradigms and Sources of Design Planning Change Strategies and Tactics How to Carry Out These Techniques Try It! Summary Citations 20 Where Are We Going and How Will We Get There? Strategies and Tactics What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story: How the Quakers Changed Direction on Their Vision of a Retreat Center What This Technique Is About Examples of Community Development Strategies Tactics How to Develop Strategies and Tactics Project Timeline How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Resources Citations 21 Effective Learning Objectives What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story: If You Don’t Know Where You Are Going, Any Path Will Do What This Technique Is About Example: Hunger-Free St. Michael Parish How to Carry Out This Technique SMART Objectives Try It! Summary Citations 22 No Tin Cups: Fundraising and Stewardship What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Funding Homes for Veterans What This Technique Is About Creating a Fundraising Plan Methods of Fundraising Sponsorships Individual Giving Build a Fundraising Network Fundraising Events In-Kind Donations Fee-For-Service Grants Accountability and Stewardship How to Carry Out These Techniques Create a Fundraising Plan Fundraising Strategies Conduct Meetings Seeking Donations Build a Fundraising Network Events In-Kind Donations Fee-For-Service Grants Demonstrating Accountability and Stewardship Communications Software to Assist With Fundraising Try It! Summary Resources Donation Forms and Web Pages Free Software for Fundraising Sources for Grant Searches Websites for More Information Citations 23 Building Alliances and Collaboration What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Opening Dialogue What This Technique Is About Alliances With Outside Organizations Bridge Cultural, Social and Community Values Build the Community and Methods of Collaborating Alliances With Outside People How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Resources Citations 24 Choreography of Conversation What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Communication: Mr. Mayor Attends a Race Unity Group Meeting What This Technique Is About Step 1: Which Dance Step Is Appropriate? Step 2: Who Leads? Who Follows? Step 3: Cutting In The Arts of Observation and Reflection Keeping in Step (Taking Cues From the Dance-Master) Communication Styles How to Break Up Tensions in the Group—Introducing New Steps How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Exercise #1: Describe How You Would Facilitate Exercise #2: Practice Observing a Meeting Summary Citations 25 Setting the Stage for Productive Meetings What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Productive and UNproductive Meetings: Gun Violence in Our Town What This Technique Is About Plan to Accommodate Attendees Plan to Socialize Plan a Team Culture Discussion Plan the Agenda Plan to Record Key Information Plan for Interactive Activities Room Set-Up Prepare Yourself Opening the Meeting During the Meeting Observing Stay on Task Conclude the Meeting: Agreements, Actions and Decisions How to Carry Out This Technique Planning Open the Meeting During the Meeting Meeting Conclusion Try It! Summary Citations 26 Listening Deeply What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Listening What This Technique Is About Removing the Barriers to Listening Talking and Not Understanding Biases Distractions and Interruptions Expectations Presence Eye Contact Nonverbal Feedback Ask Questions Connection How to Carry Out This Technique Try It! Summary Citations 27 Observing the Action What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Observation of Participants What This Technique Is About Communication Across Cultures How to Carry Out Observations of Participants Practice Observing Try It! Exercise #1 Exercise #2 Summary Citations 28 Asking Good Questions What’s in This Chapter? A Story About Asking Questions What This Technique Is About Why Do People Ask Questions? Questioning and Teamwork Asking Questions Types of Questions Questions Through the Change Process Delivering Questions Use Silence Encourage Participation Responding to Answers How to Carry Out This Technique Questions and Teamwork Questions Throughout the Planning Cycle Try It! Summary Citations Citations for Studies Cited in the Story 29 Trouble on the Team What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About an Elephant in the Living Room Let’s Ask the Key Question Again—What’s Happening Now? Back to Our Story What These Techniques Are About What Is the Role of Conflict in Community Development? How to Address the Problem of Conflict in a Healthy Way What Are Some Typical Issues That Can Cause Conflict? How to Carry Out These Techniques Resolutions Situational Blindness Poor Communication Try It! The Scenario What You Need to Do Summary Citations Stage 5 Community Development 30 Choosing and Developing a Solution What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story: A New Librarian Comes to Town What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique Who Should Be Involved? Searching for Promising Practices or Interventions Attributes of Promising Practices or Interventions Team Decision Process Gain Consensus for Group Commitment Analyze Costs and Benefits Matching Solutions to Causes Design and Development Evaluation Try It! Summary Citations 31 Communication What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Communication as a Strategy What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out These Techniques Guidelines for Emissary Work Guidelines for Word-of-Mouth Promotion Guidelines for Public Behaviors That Others Will Emulate Guidelines for Sharing Ideas and Stories Guidelines for Stories in the Local News Media Guidelines for Communications in Print and Visuals Guidelines for Communication in Social and Other Media Guidelines for Reporting Results Other Methods Evaluating Communications Try It! Summary Citations 32 Programs What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Program Intervention: Renew What This Technique Is About Creating Training How to Carry Out This Technique About the Learners Analyzing the Content The Lesson Plan for a Face-to-Face Training Creating Job-Aids Mentoring and Coaching Try It! Summary Citations 33 Policy Change What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About the 3Rs Project—Reading Reduces Recidivism What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique Who Should Be Involved? What’s Happening Now? Desired Outcomes Information Seeking Planning Tell Your Story Timing Networking Policy Enactment Policy Evaluation Try It! Summary Citations 34 Physical Environment What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Creating a Mountain Biking Trail What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique Who Should Be Involved? What’s Happening Now? Desired Outcomes Information Seeking Planning Try It! Summary Citations 35 Support What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Community Support What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique Who Should Be Involved? What’s Happening Now? Desired Outcomes Information Seeking Planning the Support Group Facilitation of Support Groups Meetings Getting the Word Out Additional Support Materials Implementing the Support Group Evaluating the Support Group Try It! Summary Citations 36 Monitoring and Managing Change What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Managing Change What This Technique Is About Get People Ready for Change Monitor Progress Implementation and Maintenance Change Management Risks Quality Report Results How to Carry Out This Technique Monitor Progress Remove Obstacles Build on the Change Manage Risks Manage Quality Report Results Try It! Summary Citations Stage 6 Evaluation and Conclusion 37 Leadership, Sustainability and Renewal What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Mentorship for Leadership Development What This Technique Is About Preventing Rollback Leadership for Organizational Renewal Leadership Development How to Carry Out This Technique Sustaining the Change Renewing the Organization Leadership Development Try It! Summary Citations 38 Evaluation What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Evaluation What This Technique Is About How to Carry Out This Technique Who Should Be Involved? Write the Questions Select the Data Collection Method Surveys Interviews Observations Archival Records Test the Survey, Interview or Observation Form Prepare to Analyze the Data Collect and Analyze Your Data Report Results Try It! Summary Citations 39 Disengagement: It’s Been Nice, but I Really Must Be Going What’s in This Chapter? Objectives A Story About Disengaging From the Action What This Technique Is About When to Step Aside How to Carry Out This Technique How to Step Aside When Objectives Are Complete Formal Exit Meeting The Agenda Final Written Report Reflection for Continued Professional Development Try It! Summary Citations Index