Peterson and Everett Discuss
Civic Engagement
Peterson Speaks at Association of Bay Area Governments Conference.
3/27/08: Executive Director Pete Peterson and City/Regional Task Force
Co-chair Ed Everett lead a morning conference entitled "Focus on
Community Engagement" for the Association of Bay Area
Governments (ABAG). The conference is one in the "Best Practice
Conference Series."
After Ed Everett spoke about the fundamental relationship
between community building and civic engagement, Pete Peterson
talked about several of the popular methodologies in use around
the country and about the essential elements that contribute to
a "legitimate" project or campaign.
This was followed by a role playing exercise where all 60+
attendees participated in two very different versions of a "town
meeting." One involved the standard, "hear from the experts then
talk amongst yourselves" scenario in an auditorium setting. The
second role play was set in a larger room around 10 circular
tables. ABAG staff facilitated each conversation, and attendees
were asked a series of questions about their vision for their
communities.
The results were, obviously, starkly different, and
demonstrated that, with a little intentional preparation, even
the town meeting can be more engaging to the public.
