1. All-America promising practices webinar series
Inclusive Civic Engagement Featuring Seattle, Washington, Dubuque, Iowa and Lakewood, Colorado

2. 2018 All-America city award promoting equity through inclusive civic engagement
2018 is the 50th anniversary of the Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorder. The report concluded with words that fit easily within our own times,
“it is time to make good the promises of American democracy to all citizens – urban and rural, white, black, Spanish surname, American Indians, and every minority group.”  

3. Seattle’s race and social justice initiative
City’s commitment to eliminate racial disparities and achieve racial equity in Seattle.
When RSJI began ten years ago, no U.S. city had ever undertaken an effort that focused explicitly on institutional racism.
Since that time, Minneapolis, Madison WI, Portland OR and our own King County, among others, have all established their own equity initiatives.
Across the United States, local governments are acknowledging that race matters.

4. Questions?

5. Inclusive Civic Engagement: Dubuque, IA
Nikola Pavelic
Former Community Engagement Coordinator

13. Engagement Reach (based 482/635 respondents;76% return rate)
Demographics
Dubuque, Iowa
(based on 2015 Census data)
Engagement Reach (based 482/635 respondents;76% return rate)
Population size
58,799
482
Male
48.4% (2010)
41%
Female
51.6% (2010)
59%
Under 18
21.4% (2010)
0.2%
Between 18 and 65
N/A
86%
Over 65
16.5% (2010_
13.8%
No High School
8.7%
0.03%
High School
61.4%
15%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
29.9%
76%
Black or African America
4% (2010) 1%
Asian
1.1% (2010)
0.01%
American Indian and Alaska Native
0.3% (2010) 0%
Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
0.5% (2010)
Hispanic or Latino
2.4% (2010)
White
91.7% (2010)
Two or more races
1.8% (2010)

14. Techniques used to increase diverse participation
Relational outreach
Youth of color involved by partnering with a program coordinator to host engagement during regularly scheduled program.
People with disabilities involved by partnering with an organization serving people with disabilities to host the meeting on location.
Moved meetings/gatherings into community spaces like super market, community centers, and library.
Developed quick infographics to share what we heard, what we did with the input, and next steps.
Moved away from a microphone approach to group dialogue and group preference.

16. Questions?

17. CITY OF LAKEWOOD, COLORADO
MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE

18. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Lakewood Linked Initiative Elements and Process
Based on the understanding that …
Each neighborhood in Lakewood has unique and different needs
That there are many needs in our “own backyard”
Schools, faith organizations, businesses, nonprofits, neighborhood associations, HOA’s and residents comprise the elements of a neighborhood

19. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Step One
The City of Lakewood partnered with Nextdoor.com
Nextdoor.com is a social media platform for neighborhoods to communicate with each other.
At the start of the partnership in 2014, 10 sites in Lakewood were already operating
By 2016,there were 120 sites operating

20. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Step Two
The Mayor formed the Lakewood Faith Coalition
There are approximately 35 active faith organizations working with Lakewood Title One Schools in the Lakewood community

21. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Step Three
The Mayor hosted a meeting bringing all Lakewood service organizations together
A total of 35 club leaders attended the meeting representing Optimist, Rotary, Kiwanis and Elks service clubs in Lakewood.

22. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Step Four
Next steps will include:
Convening business associations
Convening nonprofit organizations

23. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Success Stories
Early in the process a number of small partnerships were facilitated that accomplished great things for the Lakewood community:
Local paint store agreed to provide paint to residents for graffiti clean-up on property
Local paint store provided paint and supplies to the new Lakewood 40 West Arts District supporting the new look and new identity of a historic area of Lakewood
Local hardware store provided workshops and supply discounts to residents participating in the City of Lakewood’s Sustainable Neighborhood Program
Food pantries set up at two elementary schools with a process for management
Coat and boots secured to help over 600 children in Lakewood

24. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Examples of collaborative projects that involved faith organizations, businesses, nonprofits, service clubs and other elements in the community included:
Patterson Head Start School:
The community including Lakewood businesses, foundations and service organizations came together to create an outdoor classroom for the Head Start students called Patterson Nature Quest Outdoor Classroom.

25. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Patterson Nature Quest Outdoor Classroom

26. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Foothills Field of Dreams Community Project:
Through a partnership with Jefferson County School District, Foothills Elementary School, City of Lakewood, faith organizations, businesses, neighborhood associations, local residents and school children, a field of weeds was transformed into a ball field and play area where no play facility was available.

27. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Foothills Field of Dreams

28. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Green Mountain Elementary School field development and play structure replacement:
Inspired by the success of the Foothills Field of Dreams, this elementary school went on to create its own renovation of school yard space that had not been touched since the 1960’s.

29. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Green Mountain Elementary Project

30. MAYOR’S LAKEWOOD LINKED INITIATIVE
Amazing community collaborations and synergy continue…

31. Questions?