Phase 2: Idea Collection
Engaging Communities to Transform Their Surroundings
Key Skills
- Collaboration
- Outreach
- Training & capacity building
- Facilitation
- Designing for accessibility
At a Glance
During idea collection, we invite communities into an ideation process where they propose concrete ideas to improve their environments using PB funds.
This phase requires an accessible way for people to identify the issues that matter most, explore the root causes, and suggest solutions that address those needs. Idea collection is as much about creating spaces for people to dream and discuss different ways of meeting their needs as it is about collaboration and strong project management.
The most successful strategies PBP has seen are designed with input from community members with diverse identities and experiences, especially those who understand the inner workings and needs of their communities. Working with the Steering Committee to shape your idea collection approach - and to identify effective ways for them to engage their neighbors, will help maximize participation.
The Steering Committee, ideally representative of people most often left out of traditional decision-making spaces, plays a key role in designing an idea collection and outreach approach that makes participation simple and meaningful for their communities.
Partnering with local organizations to conduct idea collection will also open opportunities for the process to feel different than traditional government decision-making by incorporating it into the fabric of society through events such as fairs, festivals, weekly gatherings, and existing programming. It also allows for strong facilitation of these conversations, since they may have pre-existing relationships with community members, and a strong understanding of what is important to them.
Formalizing these partnerships with local groups to carry out idea collection will help community members learn more about their community and its needs by creating new connections, surfacing existing programming and initiatives, and highlighting programming or resource gaps, which will ultimately enrich your PB process.
In addition to the Steering Committee, it’s important to partner with local organizations that know how to connect with the communities they serve in ways that feel comfortable and effective. This can be a great way to include more vulnerable populations in the process, especially those who might not have the time to serve on the Steering Committee.
Ready to Get Started?
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