Even though things are already off and running this year, it is certainly not too late to get more involved in IAP2 USA! I’d really like this to be the year that each member involves him or herself more directly and more deeply in our organization.
There are a number of absolutely fabulous committees and task forces that are actively supporting the organization, you and your fellow members, our friends and others with an interest in public participation:
Four Keynote Speakers highlight the 2015 IAP2 North American Conference
An internationally-recognized facilitator who brings together people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and a leader in conflict resolution in key policy areas will be two of the keynote speakers at the Fourth Annual IAP2 North American Conference, Sept. 9 – 11, in Portland, OR.
WANTED: SESSION PRESENTERS FOR PORTLAND CONFERENCE
The deadline is approaching to submit a proposal for a session presentation at the Conference. This is an opportunity to share an insight or angle with your friends and colleagues in P2.
Presentations at last year’s Conference ran the gamut from Indigenous Engagement, to the way Millennials see the future of the profession, to the importance of story-telling in P2. If you would like to present one of our sessions, you have until March 6 to submit your proposal.
IAP2 USA Announces Skills Symposium – a chance to learn from the best!
You’ll want to save these dates – May 27-31 – for the IAP2 Skills Symposium at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. It’s a rare opportunity to learn from some of the best in the profession on topics you and your colleagues have said you want to learn more about: promoting diversity, using technology, building trust, evaluation, and much more. The topics and symposium leaders are still being finalized, so check back here, watch your email and the IAP2 USA website for updates.
Each month, our Learning Webinars present a great opportunity for you to learn all sorts of new approaches and ideas that can work for your P2 projects. Case in point: the February webinar, which featured Core Values Award winners Carolyn Lukensmeyer of the National Institute for Civil Discourse in the US and David Plouffe of the City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
P2 – THE NEXT GENERATION - THE IAP2 STUDENT WEBINAR, MARCH 31
All across the USA, student interest in IAP2 is growing –and it’s no wonder! Savvy students who used IAP2 to network, improve their skills, and land jobs are spreading the word like no other. Practitioners are some of the first to tell us they appreciate the energy and enthusiasm that student members bring to our organizations and that students and practitioners have much to learn from each other.
BEST PRACTICES BY RYAN HENDERSON
NEIGHBORHOODS, USA AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
In May I’ll be attending the Neighborhoods, USA Conference in Houston, Texas. At the conference, I’ll be presenting two workshops, while holding out hope that I’ll be given the chance to present Adopt-A-Neighbor for the Best Neighborhood Program of the Year award. The opportunity to present in front of a group of committed community builders (city/county staff, volunteers, and neighborhood leaders) will be quite the privilege. The honor, however, will come from meeting and connecting with so many individuals who care about making their community a better place to live.
This month I’ve chosen to write about Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) because I believe they stand for many of the same things that IAP2 stands for. I’m also a big proponent of cross-promoting like-minded organizations that are committed to increase public participation.
We are delighted that IAP2 Australasia is joining in with our monthly Learning Webinars, and on April 14, we'll be welcoming long-time colleague Desley Renton with the City of Melbourne, to lead a webinar on Melbourne's Community Engagement Framework. Please note that, due to the time difference, this webinar will begin at 4pm Eastern time in North America.
Help organize Text, Talk, Act events on April 14 and May 7.
Thousands of people, in all 50 states, have participated in previous rounds of Text, Talk, Act, which combines text messaging, social media, and face-to-face discussion to help people decide how they can strengthen mental health in their families, on their campuses, and in their communities.
Text, Talk, Act was developed by the Creating Community Solutions alliance, which includes DDC; see www.creatingcommunitysolutions.org/texttalkact (CCSA was named Project of the Year at the 2014 IAP2 USA Core Values Awards). There will be a special contest connected with this round: if you organize Text, Talk, Act events on April 14 or May 7, you could win one of five $1,000 prizes for your school or community organization. To register, visit bit.ly/TTAContest.
GET READY TO APPLY FOR
THE 2015 IAP2 USA CORE VALUES AWARDS!
Did you work on a successful, or innovative, or ground-breaking P2 project in the past year? Time to start thinking about making sure that it gets the recognition it deserves – and that others can learn from it. The application period will open soon for the 2015 IAP2 USA Core Values Awards. The categories are:
Research Project of the Year
Organization of the Year
Project of the Year
The winners will go on to compete against other Core Values Award winners from around the world at the Federation level (last year, the St Vrain Valley School District in Colorado won Research Project of the Year from both IAP2 USA and the IAP2 Federation!). If you need inspiration, click here to find out more about last year’s winners and watch for more news about the application process!
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