Identify, Research and Respond to Issues as a Group

While a movement toward participation may be geographically focused, as in a community or neighborhood association, most grassroots activity and interest begins with a controversial issue. Fledgling organizations need to understand how best to approach these issues and therefore maximize their impact on decision making. The process involves four steps:

1. plan
2. research
3. recruit
4. publicize

1. Plan
Planning is necessary in order to avoid wasted activity, and make activity pay off. It should move from the general to the specific, from the big picture to the small, from the long term to the short, from "what" to "how". Planning entails:

Look beyond the obvious to find good objectives and then decide which to pursue. To be effective, the group should pursue no more than one or two objectives at any given time. New groups should begin with small projects having a high probability of success over the short term.

1. an ordered list of tasks to complete
2. a time-frame for each task
3. persons responsible for each task
4. resources required including materials, facilities and funds

2. Research

What may seem an obvious problem or an obvious solution often seems less so after a little research. Acting before researching can waste time and energy. It can also reinforce the stereotype of active citizens as highly vocal, but largely uninformed. The stereotype is the most often-cited excuse for dismissing calls for greater citizen participation in local decision-making.

"Research" includes gathering data and information on the local problem or issue, as well as identifying other communities or other organizations who have addressed this or similar issues.

3. Recruit
One of the main on-going activities of any grassroots organization, as well as any planner developing a public participation program, is getting more people involved. This is not easy: most people don't like the idea of being "roped into" doing community work in their spare time. The heavy emphasis on the individual by modern commercial culture has driven participation rates below 5% for most community activities. If that sounds low, remember a few people committed to a single course of action can achieve amazing results.

Some tricks:

People join community groups to meet people, to have fun, to learn new skills, to pursue an interest, and to link their lives to some higher purpose. They leave if they don't find what they are looking for. Participation programs and citizens groups need to ask themselves more often: What benefits do we provide? At what cost to members? How can we increase the benefits and decrease the costs?

Here are some ideas on where to begin.

4. Publicize
If you want to expand the number of people who know what you are doing, you need to get noticed. This usually means working with the media. Besides informing a larger public, the media can empower residents, nudge politicians, and add momentum to a grassroots initiative.

Cases

References & Links

4. Involving Publics, Interacting and Obtaining Feedback
Meetings
5. Collaborating, Resolving Conflict, Forming Partnerships

The Citizens Handbook: A Guide to Building Community in Vancouver
Vancouver Citizens Committee
   Researching: 
   Getting Noticed: 
   Getting People: 
   Planning and Acting: