December 2020 Newsletter

  From the Executive Manager's Desk: Gail Madziar

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.

      

New Year, New You


IAP2 USA logo wear and accessories are now available at the IAP2USAMarket. You can find t-shirts, hoodies and a new favorite coffee mug enhanced with the IAP2 logo and taglines. Good decisions made together is a great way to start your new year. Thank you IAP2USA Communications Committee for your hard work and creativity.

Congratulations: IAP2 International Project of the Year Winner


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

2021 North American Virtual Conference: Volunteer for a Committee


We did it before - we can do it again - create an informative, transformative and fun North American Conference in a virtual environment! The Conference is set for September 8-10; so over the holidays, why not consider bringing your talents and passions to one of the subcommittees?

Program Committee

There’s the Program Committee, reviewing the session proposals and deciding what conference-goers will get to learn about. Read the job description and apply hereDeadline to apply: January 6, 2021.

Sponsorship Committee

Or consider the Sponsorship Committee, coming up with relevant, compelling ways that our various partners can support the conference. The groundwork has already been laid over years of success: here’s a great opportunity to help the organization and make new, valuable connections in the process. Read the job description and apply hereDeadline to apply: January 8, 2021.

Fun & Networking Committee

And then there’s the Fun and Networking Committee, which handles the social aspect of the conference. The 2020 Conference showed what’s possible, for helping people to connect and have some fun online; bring your creative ideas and build on that success. Read the job description and apply here. Deadline to apply: January 15, 2021

Don’t delay! The deadlines to apply are coming up quickly!

Year End Giving: Make a Difference


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

Featured Course: Meaningful tools, Powerful Outcomes


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


Upcoming Webinars

January 12 - 11am PST / 2pm EST- WEBINARCore Values Award-Winner: IAP2 Organization of the Year. Does your organization have a culture of P2? Is consulting the public “first and throughout” part of its makeup? Do you want to learn ways of bringing that culture into your organization? It takes commitment, persistence and patience: the Nova Scotia Health Authority took five years to build that culture. But the work paid off, both with the culture of P2 and in being named 2020 IAP2 Organization of the Year for both Canada and Internationally. 

January 19 - 11am PST / 2pm EST - TASTER: Measuring What Matters. The practice of evaluation means we can be more confident in our decision-making, adapt to circumstances and achieve our goals effectively and efficiently. In this Taster Maria deBruijn will explore how to support your organization’s goals by building on the fundamental elements of evaluation in P2. She will touch on the levels of P2 evaluation and the four main purposes. 

2020-21 Holiday Schedule


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 our current courses don't meet your needs please fill out this quick survey so we can help you become the P2 practitioner your community needs.

Other News

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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