July 2020 Newsletter

From the Executive Manager's Desk: Gail Madziar

The Foundations Program is the core of our IAP2 USA P2 fundamentals training. When the COVID 19 pandemic hit, all our classes were canceled or postponed like much of the professional development across the country and the world. Since then our US trainers have been working hard to move this important offering to an online format. We are thrilled to announce those classes are now available. Read more


Board of Directors: 2021-2023 Vacancies

 Board of Directors Nominations Open through August 3. 

IAP2 USA is looking for new leaders. Help guide the direction of your expanding organization by nominating yourself or a colleague for board service. The IAP2 USA Board helps determine the organization’s strategic priorities and ensures that the goals and objectives of the strategic plan are met. 

By serving on the IAP2 USA IAP2 board you will not only give back to your profession, you will develop leadership skills, and increase your knowledge and passion for the public participation practice.

This year’s board needs visionary and enthusiastic leaders intent on guiding the organization into the future.Nominations close August 3 for 2021-2023 Board members. Details 

Launch a Chapter During a Pandemic? Sure, Why Not!?
by Nicole Marron


Getting an IAP2 chapter launched in the northeast corner of the U.S. has been no easy feat. Big cities (traffic), a variety of geography (more traffic), and frequent weather events (just stay home—there’s traffic) all have impacted the ability for public participation practitioners to get together and get a chapter off the ground. What could the cure be? Oddly, a global pandemic. Read More


Training & Events

New Online Course Offerings

Virtual Learning Programs

Due to COVID-19 all of our in-person courses are being transitioned to virtual learning platforms. We will continue to announce online courses as they are added to our calendar. 


2020 North American Virtual Conference: What's on Tap?

Have you looked over the Schedule-at-a-Glance yet? This year’s North American Conference promises sessions, workshops, networking opportunities and other events geared toward helping you explore the Mountains of Possibilities and Elevate Your Engagement. Our presenters and organizers have made some deft adaptations to create a unique and memorable online experience, and all we need now … is YOU! Register here, CA$400 for IAP2 members and CA$500 for nonmembers.

The early-bird discount is in effect through July 31. Please note that members need to contact info@iap2canada.ca for their passcode. Once you have registered for the Conference, sign up for each individual session or workshop you want to attend so we can send you the proper Zoom coordinates.


Upcoming Webinar

IAP2 Learning Webinar - Charlotte Encore: "Evaluating P2 to Address Historic Disenfranchisement and Empower Communities" 

August 11, 2020 11:00 a.m. (PDT p.m.)

Despite the current efforts by governments to show that their work is “participatory”, research shows that there are still significant challenges for certain communities. What’s more, some successful participatory processes can actually reinforce power inequities. This leads to a problem of perception: residents can have a different view of P2 than practitioners.

In the last of our Charlotte Encores, researchers Allison Smith, City of Louisville, KY, and Daniel DeCaro, University of Louisville, discuss their research into ways institutional and systemic racism shapes residents’ perception of a city’s governance practices and how that process can be improved.

IAP2 Monthly Learning webinars are another member benefit: free for IAP2 members and just $50 for nonmembers. Register here to take part.

Please note: because of the IAP2 North American VIrtual Conference, September 8 through 11, there will be no learning webinar in September.

 Register here


Webinar Rewind

JULY 2020

“A How To … Expert Facilitation Using Zoom

The restrictions placed on our profession by the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to stick around for some time. Nearly 400 IAP2 members and non-members joined Dr Rebecca Sutherns, trainer, facilitator and author of Nimble: Off Script But Still on Track and Sightline: Strategic Plans That Gather Momentum, Not Dust (coming in Sept,) for a deep dive into ways to get the most out of the Zoom platform. One advantage Zoom has over some others is allowing for a presenter and facilitator to interact with the audience “on the fly” gathering information and feedback during the actual event. There are definitely some areas that require adaptation and sharpened facilitator’s skills.

IAP2 Members can watch the entire webinar here. IAP2 Learning Webinars are another benefit for members. Members have exclusive access to the Webinar Archive.

JUNE 2020

Online Engagement Master Class 

Many public engagement practitioners had been working with online tools for a few years, but the COVID-19 situation vaulted that aspect of the field from “nice to have” to “gotta have it”. Small wonder, then, that over 300 people registered for the June Learning Webinar, which featured the presenters of two of the sessions at the 2019 IAP2 North American Conference last September. Miranda Eng of Argyle showed ways of designing an online engagement process, citing four pillars to use. Jamille Robbins of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, along with Ashley Bush of AECOM and MetroQuest’s Dave Biggs, described how using online engagement revitalized engagement in their region. Read more

MAY 2020

Charlotte Encore: Applying Human-Centered Design to Your P2 Strategy

Public Participation is generally about including people affected by a decision in the making of that decision. But what if the engagement process itself were designed with those same people? IAP2’s May learning webinar was another Charlotte Encore, bringing back one of the more popular sessions from the 2019 North American Conference.  Read More

SPECIAL WEBINAR: Beyond Inclusion - Equity in Public Participation

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) are major concerns for P2 practitioners today. Governments and organizations around the world are increasingly engaging the public to inform the development of policies, programs and services, but many groups of people remain under-represented in engagement processes due to systemic barriers and inequities. Read More

Upcoming Events

July 31 - Early-bird deadline for IAP2 North American Conference

Aug 3 & 5  - Online Course Advanced Equity (prerequisite introductory course required)

Aug 6 & 13 - Online Course Engaging Immigrants and Other Under-Served Communities (SOLD OUT)

August 11 -IAP2 Learning Webinar - Charlotte Encore: “Do You Realize You’re Already Doing It?”

Aug 17 - 21 - Online Course IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation

Module 1: Planning for Effective Participation 

Aug 24 - 27 - Online Course IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation

Module 2: Techniques for Effective Participation 

Sep 1, 2, 3, 4 - Online Course Social Media & P2How to Design and Host Effective Digital Public Engagement

Sept. 8 - 11 - 2020 IAP2 North American Virtual Conference

Sep 23, 24 & 25 - Online Course When Things Go SidewaysHow to Embrace Emotion and Change Results

Sep 28 - Oct 2 - Online Course IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation

Module 1: Planning for Effective Participation 

Oct 5-8 - Online Course IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation

Module 2: Techniques for Effective Participation 

Oct 13, 14,& 15 - Online Course Meaningful Tools, Powerful Outcomes 

Oct 20 & 21 - Online Course The Nimble Facilitator: Off the Rails, but Still on Track

Nov 2 - 6  - Online Course IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation

Module 1: Planning for Effective Participation 

Nov 9 - 12 - Online Course IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation

Module 2: Techniques for Effective Participation

Nov 30 - Dec 6 - Online Course IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation

Module 1: Planning for Effective Participation 

Dec 7 - 10 - Online Course IAP2 Foundations in Public Participation

Module 2: Techniques for Effective Participation

Other News

TRB 2020-21 Annual Meeting Public Involvement Session

What's it All About?

The Public Engagement & Communications Poster Session will highlight best practices, new technologies and lessons learned, build awareness and skills, and advance the state of the art in public involvement and communications for transportation. Entries are encouraged from all modes and all stages of the project development process. However, the poster must focus on the public involvement and/or communications components of the project, rather than on the project in its entirety.

Download Application

Member Spotlight

If your organization  had any recent P2 successes or thought of creative solutions we want to hear about it! Please contact info@iap2usa.org to be featured on our website or newsletter.

COVID-19 Resources


If you are looking for guidance on how to safely reopen your next event, The ESA Reopening guide offers a great checklist.

**We continue to add more resources to help you adjust to the new virtual world. Check out our favorite online tips and tools here. **


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