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3rd Annual “Raise the Civic Canopy”“Raise the Civic Canopy”

EventFebruary 15, 2007

Belmar Center, Lakewood, CO

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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?

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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

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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”

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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.

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The Challenge

Sustainability

Building a trusting network that lasts

Moving from specific issues to a common purpose

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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.

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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.

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The Challenge

Building a trusting network that lastsThe 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.

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The Challenge

Building a trusting network that lastsWe’ve learned that you can’t just be in the service provision business, you have to be in the business of building social networks.

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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?”

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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.

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The Challenge

Sustainability

Building a trusting network that lasts

From specific issues to a greater purpose

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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)

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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?

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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3rd Annual “Raise the Civic Canopy”“Raise the Civic Canopy”

EventFebruary 15, 2007

Belmar Center, Lakewood, CO