Seattle, WA – In Person: IAP2 USA Certificate in Public Participation

Seattle, WA – In Person: IAP2 USA Certificate in Public Participation

When: November 16–20

Earn your IAP2 USA Certificate in Public Participation in one immersive, five-day, in-person training experience.

• Fundamentals: November 16 (1 day)
• Designing Engagement: November 17–18 (2 days)
• Applying Methods: November 19–20 (2 days)

Time: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily

Location: Seattle, WA (venue details coming soon)

Format: In-person, interactive training

**Refreshments provided

About the Program

Based on IAP2's internationally recognized Global Learning Pathway, this program provides approximately 35 hours of practical, skills-based training in public participation and community engagement.

The Certificate builds knowledge and skill progressively across three essential courses—Fundamentals, Designing Engagement, and Applying Methods—equipping practitioners to design and deliver meaningful, effective engagement processes.

Three Essential Courses

1. Fundamentals of Public Participation (P2)/Engagement

Fundamentals—required as the first course on IAP2’s Global Learning Pathway—establishes the shared foundation for effective public participation practice.

It builds a common language and understanding of the principles, values, and frameworks that guide engagement across the IAP2 community—clarifying what meaningful participation looks like and why it matters.

Participants explore:

• IAP2’s Core Values, Code of Ethics, and Spectrum of Public Participation

• The role of engagement in decision-making

• Characteristics of credible and transparent processes

• How foundational concepts apply in real-world engagement contexts

Fundamentals prepares practitioners to move from good intentions to intentional practice.

2. Designing Public Participation & Engagement

Designing builds on Fundamentals and focuses on the Design and Plan phases of IAP2’s Practice Framework.

It strengthens practitioners’ ability to clarify purpose, influence, and participation before methods are selected or processes begin.

Participants develop an engagement plan for a real-world project while exploring:

• Engagement scoping

• Identifying participants and communities

• Setting clear purpose and objectives

• Selecting appropriate Spectrum levels

• Analyzing and responding to risks

Equity, inclusion, and the needs of diverse audiences are integrated throughout the course.

3. Applying Methods for Engagement

Applying Methods focuses on the Plan phase of IAP2’s Practice Framework, where practitioners select, develop, combine, and evaluate engagement methods.

The emphasis is on hands-on practice—exploring and trying out elements of methods to understand how they work in real settings.

Participants:

• Use the Methods Matrix to identify methods that fit engagement objectives and participant needs

• Identify and evaluate method objectives

• Develop effective questions to guide participant input

• Combine and sequence methods

• Assess whether selected approaches will meet engagement objectives

Participants leave with practical tools and strategies they can apply immediately.

Why Attend in Person?

This five-day, in-person experience provides space to step away from daily demands and engage fully in your learning.

Participants will:

• Experience firsthand how physical space influences engagement dynamics

• Learn from spontaneous dialogue and informal peer exchange

• Strengthen their professional network through sustained, face-to-face connection

Registration Options

• Register for individual courses or purchase the three-course bundle and save.
• If you have already completed Fundamentals, please contact cassie@confluencetraining.com before registering.
• Register at: www.confluencetraining.com
• Registration, payment, transfers, and cancellations for this course are managed by Confluence Training. Please direct all registration questions to cassie@confluencetraining.com.

Cassie Hemphill, Ph.D.
IAP2 Licensed Trainer

Cassie Hemphill brings 30 years of experience helping people design and lead meaningful public engagement—especially when issues are complex and the stakes are high. She works with practitioners in the U.S. and beyond to build practical skills for navigating diverse perspectives and difficult conversations, helping professionals turn challenging moments into opportunities for clarity and progress. Her work in training and facilitation draws on adult learning principles, conflict resolution practice, and a commitment to staying engaged when conversations get uncomfortable.

Cassie serves as a Mentor and Assessor for IAP2’s International Trainer Licensing Programme and the international team updating IAP2’s Global Certificate courses. She is an IAP2 USA Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3), a Certified Mediator (CM), and a Certified Virtual Facilitator (CVF). Her academic research examined how agencies and communities working together can produce better outcomes than either could alone—and how that collaboration depends on honoring both technical expertise and lived experience.