1. 1 “Raise the Civic Canopy” 3 rd Annual “Raise the Civic Canopy” Event February 15, 2007 Belmar Center, Lakewood, CO

2. 2 Table Discussion Questions What were some interesting or significant moments in your conversations about the images of civic health and organizational displays? What themes or ideas stood out? And if you just walked in and did not have time to look at the materials around the room, answer the question: What qualities of community are you trying to create in your professional and/or personal roles?

3. 3 Why are we here today?  To tell our own stories, about we are doing as individuals, organizations and institutions  To hear each other’s stories, and create new connections and partnerships  To build a network that supports and sustains us all—the Civic Canopy

4. 4 What is the Civic Canopy?  An inclusive network of partners working together to build stronger neighborhoods, healthier communities, and a more civil society  A metaphor for how we might imagine civil society to function  Examples: Colorado Prevention Leadership Council Youth Mentoring Collaborative Denver’s Road Home and “Focus on Longmont”

5. 5 If we know how to do this, why doesn’t it happen all the time?  During fall, we conducted civic scan survey.  Interviewed over 40 individuals, organizations, and institutions.  Asked them about what their greatest needs were in the effort to promote civic health.

6. 6 The Challenge  Sustainability  Building a trusting network that lasts  Moving from specific issues to a common purpose

7. 7 The Challenge  Sustainability: The work is just too hard, and too complex to do alone. You get burnt out. None of us can operate in isolation.

8. 8 The Challenge  Sustainability: Collaboration is great, but too often it is around a grant or a funding source, and when the money is gone, so is the collaboration.

9. 9 The Challenge  Building a trusting network that lasts The reason we can accomplish what we do is that we have built up trust over time. These tough conversations would tear a new group apart.

10. 10 The Challenge  Building a trusting network that lasts We’ve learned that you can’t just be in the service provision business, you have to be in the business of building social networks.

11. 11 The Challenge  Move from Specific Issues to a Greater Purpose: “There is $40 million going into after school programs for (the district). Where does it go? What is the impact?”

12. 12 The Challenge  Move from Specific Issues to a Greater Purpose: If we don’t have a higher goal, or a shared vision, it is very difficult to get beyond the turf issues that divide us.

13. 13 The Challenge  Sustainability  Building a trusting network that lasts  From specific issues to a greater purpose

14. 14 The Action  Collaborate on a Specific Issue: Education (Prepare the Future)  Collaborate in a Specific Area: (Community Mapping)  Create a Common Vision: “Vital Signs of Civic Health” (Partnering with OMNI)

15. 15 So, here is where we stand:  We have learned a lot about what people need  We have some success with case studies (Civic Mission of Schools, Homeless Dialogues, Yosemite Corridor)  We have some ideas for where to begin  We want to hear from you: What can the Canopy do to help this network grow and to increase our civic health?

16. 16 Some Definitions of Civic Health...  Capacity to engage effectively in mutual learning and decision making in order to maintain and improve quality of life. (Yampa Valley Partners)  Connecting, trusting, volunteering, participating (America’s Civic Health Index)  Strong social networks that provide bonding, bridging, and linking social capital (Annie E. Casey Foundation)

17. 17 Some Definitions of Civic Health...  Capacity to engage effectively in mutual learning and decision making in order to maintain and improve quality of life. (Yampa Valley Partners)  Connecting, trusting, volunteering, participating (America’s Civic Health Index)  Strong social networks that provide bonding, bridging, and linking social capital (Annie E. Casey Foundation)  What are the outcomes, define success in the nonprofit sector  inclusion  Collaboration, networking & partnerships  Serving the larger community & common good

18. 18 Structures the Canopy Could Provide  Organizing Around an Issue (PTF)  Organizing Around an Area (Mapping)  Vital Signs of Civic Health  Space Collective Intelligence – web with written and podcast sharing of info  Website for connecting by topical area, bulletin for pressing needs, best practices  Opportunity to meet with foundations, address competition in nonprofit areas  Networking to building relationships, having personal contact  Continuity between events, broader involvement from diverse points of view – create a true ecosystem, share contact information  Create subgroups, opportunity for work in various areas of interest  Membership org, w/dues

19. 19 Next Steps  Process feedback and notes and send it out to attendees and post on website  Provide contact information for attendees  Convene dialogues around Vital Signs Project  Launch Mapping and Prepare the Future Projects  Follow up on other suggestions that have emerged today  Next Quarterly Gathering: May or June

20. 20 “Raise the Civic Canopy” 3 rd Annual “Raise the Civic Canopy” Event February 15, 2007 Belmar Center, Lakewood, CO