Kettering Foundation
Public Deliberation in America
Community Building
What is Community Building?
Lighting the Way
“Through some very tense moments, Dr. Mather continued to preside with professionalism and dignity.”
– Tosco/Infineum CAP
Community Advisory Panels (CAPs) were started by the Chemistry Industry Council in an effort to provide a conduit of communication between chemical companies and their communities. MORE
Community building happens when members of a community come together to define common goals and to take action. Instead of being reactive to the crises of the moment, community building means being proactive in bringing together representatives of the entire community to create the best possible future. Community building is known by many names including:
- Healthy communities
- Livable communities
- Sustainable communities
- Viable communities
- Grass roots community building
Whatever your community may call it, the goal is generally the same: to improve the lives of the people living in the community. While community building is often a grass roots effort created by individuals or community organizations, local government just as often leads the process.
Facilitating Change in Communities
In any effort for change, conversation is the driving force. So it makes sense that when change is needed or wanted in a community, it starts with meetings where people can express their views. Meetings also afford community members the opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and work together.
Beacon Consulting Associates works with community organizations and local governments to:
- Facilitate open and honest discussion
- Lead visioning exercises
- Generate strategic plans
- Guide the work of action task forces
Lighting the Way
Community Advisory Panels (CAPs) were started by the Chemistry Industry Council in an effort to provide a conduit of communication between chemical companies and their communities. For over a decade Linda Mather has facilitated CAPs in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Citizen Juries were developed in the early 1990s as a way to afford citizens input into the election rhetoric. Linda facilitated the 1994 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Citizens Jury as well as the 2000 Washington State Citizen Jury on Initiative and Referendum.
“A rock...patient, pleasant, and professional all the way...an excellent moderator”
– Citizens Jury on Citizen Initiative Review