December Message: Gail Madziar, Executive Manager, IAP2 USA

As we take a moment to reflect on 2020, clearly it has been a milestone year for all of

us. Last December none of us anticipated the rapid changes and challenges we would

face in 2020. While none of us wants a repeat of this past year, the experience has

provided the opportunity for IAP2 to move forward on programs at a much faster than

anticipated pace. We shifted to online training and found ways to offer resources on

coping with the effects of the pandemic on your operations. You developed outreach

opportunities and creatively encouraged public participation relying on your resilience

and perseverance.  It’s important that we take time to celebrate and be proud of this

community. As we begin to transition from a completely virtual world, we plan to take

some of those developments with us into the future. We’ll continue to offer online training as we add back in person events when it is safe to do so.

We’re working to expand available resources on our website including highlighting more of the great work members are doing such as our IAP2 International Project of the Year Winner: Congratulations City of Flagstaff, AZ and Southside Community Association Flagstaff, Arizona. 

No matter the changes, helping you grow professionally and enhancing the public participation practice remains IAP2’s priority. Watch for an expanded calendar of new and favorite courses scheduled for 2021 to help you achieve your goals. As always, the IAP2 Foundations courses continue to be our flagship training opportunity and would be a great way to start your new year.

As 2020 comes to an end, we thank you for making IAP2 USA your professional home, and we wish you and your loved ones a happy, safe holiday and a 2021 filled with professional and personal growth, opportunities and promise.

      

Our Project Winners Sara Dechter of the City of Flagstaff, and Debora Ann Harris of Southside Community Association not only won the IAP2 USA Project of the Year Core Value Award, but also the International Award for their submission "Embracing Our Heritage; Enhancing Our Future: The Southside Community Specific Plan"

The Southside is a culturally diverse and historic neighborhood in central Flagstaff that has been experiencing renewed development pressure. The City and community association built a process that leveraged partnerships and storytelling to addressed difficult historic topics, while helping the community look forward. Staff and volunteers focused on creating numerous meaningful small opportunities, many of them “on-the-street," to gain insight and understanding into the community’s view of history and the City government. The suite of creative public participation methods and continual re-evaluation and adjustment of the process has rebuilt community trust and relationships. The Plan’s adoption was delayed by the COVID-19 emergency.

 Read More

Never before has IAP2USA been better positioned to help our communities address the increasingly complex issues of today’s times.

2020 has been a historic year for many reasons. As we continue to battle through the COVID-19 pandemic and the many adverse impacts that it has caused, there is still much to be proud of within our professional community. Accomplishments such as:

• Welcoming 500+ new members since January 1, a figure that grows IAP2USA’s total presence to more than 2200 practitioners (an organizational record);
• Launching a virtual version of our Foundations course and new online trainings on topics including P2/Digital Platforms, Reaching Immigrants, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI);
• Building new partnerships with the International City Managers Association and other organizations.

As we help people make good decisions together, we ask that you consider making a year-end donation.

Your gift will help us leverage capacity to focus on diversity equity and inclusion; and strengthen our training and scholarship programs. Thank you for your support!

Donate Today

Three 2.5 hour sessions 

January 26, 27 & 28

11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST

Trainer Kim Hyshka

Ask yourself these three questions:

• Are you running out of constructive ways to bring people together in conversation? 

• Do you need to bring people together ONLINE but have no idea how to get started?

• Are you hearing from the same people over and over again and consistently struggling to hear from diverse voices?

Join us for an interactive session, where you can fill your toolbox with some new, innovative and effective public engagement techniques that will help you host better, powerful conversations, achieve objectives and create momentum for positive change. REGISTER

IAP2 USA will be closed from 5:00 p.m. EDT on December 18, 2020 until 9:00 a.m. EDT on January 4, 2021. We will not be monitoring our emails during this time, but will respond to you as quickly as possible after we return. 

Happy Holidays from the IAP2 USA Board of Directors and Staff.

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.