IAP2 USA September 2022 Newsletter

From the Executive Manager - Erin Zimmermann

Greetings!

It was such an honor to see many of you in person at the North American Conference. More than 350 members of our P2 community come together, at the base of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain in Banff, Alberta to learn, connect, and reflect. I was struck by how artfully culture, connection, and equity was woven into the event. From the  the raising and lowering of the tipi from Travis Jimmy John and Ronine Ryder of Nakota Itipi n Ryder Style Craft, to the outside the box session about the IAP2 spectrum by  Isabella GiaVulva (Jack Brooks) that brought vulnerability and humor together in a thought provoking way, it was an exciting opportunity to really be present with other colleagues. For those unable to attend, you can purchase the Digital Experience available in mid-October. 

One message that resonated was the importance of connection before content. Connection very much is at the heart of P2. My favorite part of the conference was being able to connect with so many of you. Though the in-person event is done and we are back to business, I would love to keep building connections throughout our association. Let us know how you want to build or strengthen connections throughout our IAP2 network. Feel free to drop me a line at erin@iap2usa.org .


Erin Zimmermann, 

Executive Manager

IAP2 USA

Congratulations  IAP2 USA 2022 Core Value Awards Winners

Each year, IAP2 Affiliates around the world celebrate excellence in the profession through the IAP2 Core Values Awards. The awards go to projects and organizations which best demonstrate IAP2's Core Values and help to raise the bar in the field of public engagement by sharing best practices and inspiring the P2 community to learn from one another. As a friendly competition, the Core Values Awards encourage new approaches and innovative uses of existing ones. Consider entering your project in 2023.

The 2022 CVA winners of the "national" awards go on to compete against winners from other IAP2 affiliates from around the world. Winners were honored at the 2022 North American Conference held in Banff, Canada.

Thank you to our judges who give their time and talent. This program would not succeed without their efforts and expertise: Cheryl Hilvert, Lewis Michaelson, Dr. Marty Rozelle, Doug Sarno and Sarah Dechter.


Project Connect - Austin Transit Partnership

IAP2 USA awarded Austin Transit Partnership, Austin, TX the 2021 IAP2 USA Core Values Award in the General Project Category for Project Connect-Austin Transit Partnership.

Project Connect is the transformative, voter-approved investment in new transit services for the Austin, TX area. Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) was created by the City of Austin and the Capital Metro Transportation Authority as the independent entity, accountable and responsible for the financing, design, construction, and overall implementation of the new transit service.  ATP’s charge is to deliver on the Austin voters’ transit vision in partnership with the community – and in a way that embeds equity, sustainability, and transparency as overarching priorities.  

As a result of their efforts, the team did a good job of meeting people where they “are”, identifying the communities that needed to be heard, and tailoring the techniques to the different audiences. Additionally, it is evident that they truly listened and reacted to community concerns by going back to the drawing board and changing some of the initial plans and designs. ATP’s inclusive, whole-community approach sets a standard for 21st Century public participation.


Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan 

IAP2 USA awarded the City of Charlotte, NC the 2022 IAP2 USA Core Values Award in the Creativity and Innovation Category. Also named IAP2 USA project of the year, it moves forward to the IAP2 International competition for judging at the international level.

The project, Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan, innovated how communities grapple with the legacy of redlining, urban renewal, race-based policies, and exclusion of minority groups in planning for their future. The synergy of unique participation techniques, groundbreaking equity analyses, and carefully constructed conversations on the lived experiences of minority voices, created a vision of help and hope for Charlotteans. 

Public participation helped guide the plan’s Equitable Growth Framework that represented the community’s diverse lived experiences and showcased the creativity and resiliency of the City’s public engagement strategies. Good metrics were used to evaluate the participation effort and to make changes. 

Honorable Mention

Grand Marais Reconstruction Project, Minnesota Department of Transportation


The Highway 61 corridor along the North Shore of Lake Superior is the lifeblood of the communities it serves, stretching 150 miles from Duluth, Minn., to the Canadian border. It provides the only regional access for goods and services for much of the area and is a safe, efficient route for the tourism-based economy. 

The community of Grand Marais identified the highway corridor as both a vital connection and a top barrier to physical activity and community connections within the city. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) worked closely with the Grand Marais community to identify goals for pedestrian mobility improvements, reduced traffic speeds, improving roadside features and improved drainage. Some challenges were met early on with differing views on how the corridor vision would be implemented through the design, but through honest discussions about feasibility, the partners were able to move forward.

Become a Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3) 

Certification as a Public Participation professional acknowledges your adherence to a strict set of standards recognized around the world for delivering quality, meaningful public participation. It is the premier credential for public participation professionals. 

An Assessment Center is now scheduled for February 24 & 25, 2023 with an application deadline of October 28, 2022.

To join a select number of colleagues a three-step process is used to assess candidates’ knowledge and skills:

  • Step One – Submit your Application and Professional Portfolio to to info@iap2usa.org.
  • Step Two – Preparation and submission of a Public Participation Plan in response to a case study

  • Step Three – Preparation for and participation in an Assessment Center.

Prepare your CP3 application form and email to info@iap2usa.org

Apply by October 28
The Greater Good - Emerging Leader Award 

A person smiling at the camera

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

The Greater Good - Emerging Leader Award has been created in recognition of emerging leadership. This award is for people who are under 35 and/or have fewer than five years in the practice and are making a new impact on the public participation profession. The selection of the honorees is made by the IAP2 USA President, and awards are given at the IAP2 North American Conference.

This year’s winner is Nehama Rogozen, Public Relations Officer at San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)

Nehama Rogozen is a strong believer in community engagement, grassroots organizing and effective communication. She has been working at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency for the past 3.5 years, first on the Muni Customer Service team, where she helped problem-solve issues of access for Muni customers, and now as a Public Relations Officer for the Public Outreach and Engagement Team (POETS). 

Much of Nehama’s work involves building trust with the public and listening deeply to understand and address their concerns. As part of the POETS team, Nehama has worked on major corridors, transit communications, parking and curb management, business outreach and construction mitigation, incorporating public participation principles into all of her work. Her work, resulted in citywide approaches and partnerships to support business communities through an economic justice lens and a public participation lens.

Nehama has modeled ways in which IAP2 Core Values can and should be part of infrastructure projects throughout all stages of the project, and especially at the end of projects as IAP2 Core Value 7 emphasizes. 

More Information


Online P2: How to Design and Host Effective Digital Public Engagement

Trainer: Susanna Haas Lyons, M.A.

October 11, 13, 18 & 20

12:00 - 3:30 pm Eastern 

Digital tools are essential for public participation in the age of COVID-19. This hands-on course will teach you to create online engagement campaigns that gather input creatively, enable collaborative online interactions, and sustain participation over time. We'll identify barriers to participation and examine strategies to build equity and inclusion online. Learn best practices for facilitating online meetings. Bring your questions and lessons learned, so we can learn from one another's engagement innovations during this global pandemic. Join by computer if possible (rather than tablet), as this course gives you an opportunity to experience both the convenor and participant sides of online participation.

Participants completing this course can:

  • Define objectives for their engagement efforts and understand how these apply to online participation strategies
  • Use simple online tools to “listen” to what people are saying online about a project’s key issues and people
  • Begin to write content appropriate for social media public participation projects and understand the importance of two-way communication in this medium
  • Identify participation barriers for digital environments and explore approaches to increase equity and inclusion
  • Recognize the value and capacity of online advertising
  • Craft a basic online strategy to engage people at all depths of involvement and at various stages of the project
        Register

        Webinar Recordings -  Available free to Members On-Demand

        All of our past webinars are available to members who are logged into iap2usa.org. Just click here and you will be prompted to login to the Webinar Archives.


        More Webinar Recordings

        2022 Training Calendar

        Foundations in Public Participation - IN-PERSON - hosted by the IAP2 USA Northeast Chapter

        2022

        Self Paced - Riding the Storm: Bravely Leading in Times of Polarization and Disruption

        Oct 11, 13, 18, 20  - Online P2: How to Design and Host Effective Digital Public Engagement

        Oct 19 - Digital Discovery Workshop 1: Facebook for Public Participation

        Oct 25 - Hybrid How To: Design Engaging Hybrid Workshops and Events

        Oct 26 - Techniques for High Emotion & Controversy in P2 Workshop

        Oct 31 - Nov 10 - Foundations in Public Participation

        Nov 1 & 2 - Engaging Immigrants and Other Under-Served Communities in Public Engagement

        Nov 7 - 11 - Foundations in Public Participation: Planning for Effective Public Participation

        Nov 14 - 17 - Foundations in Public Participation: Techniques for Effective Public Participation

        Nov 14 - 18 - Foundations in Public Participation - IN-PERSON - hosted by the IAP2 USA Northeast Chapter

        Nov. 30 - Digital Discovery Workshop 2: Making Simple and Engaging Video

        Dec 5 - 15 - Foundations in Public Participation

        Dec 8 - Design Engaging Virtual Workshops and Events

        2023

        Jan 18 & 19 - Participation Across Differences

        Jan 23-26 - Strategies for Dealing with Opposition and Outrage in Public Participation

        Jan 25 - Digital Discovery Workshop 3: Collaborating During Hybrid Public Engagement

        Jan 26 - Stakeholder Mapping: Identifying and Analyzing Underrepresented Stakeholders

        Feb 22 - Digital Discovery Workshop 4: Enhancing Digital Accessibility - Sight, Sound and More

        Mar 29 - Digital Discovery Workshop 5: Measuring and Managing Social Media for Public Participation

        Apr 26 - Digital Discovery Workshop 6: Beyond Zoom and Teams - Interactive Video Meeting Tools


        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.

        Member Spotlight

        If your organization has 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.


        Copyright ©2010 - present IAP2 USA.

        All rights reserved.