##Facilitation for Community Involvment

Community input and buy-in is one of the most important elements in community organizing. Neighborhood meet-ups or community meetings can be tricky to navigate with so many personalities and experiences at the table. Good facilitation is a key component to getting people excite the ball rolling and ensure active participation.

Facilitation is the art of creating a space where people can make connections and build powerful ideas. There are several participatory processes you can use to make collective decisions, design projects, and/or tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience that is present in the room.

Tips + Tactics

• Choosing a Facilitator: Good facilitation is often hands-off, allowing participants to run the show.
• Creating an Agenda: Agendas are important documents that inform people on why they are gathering and what they will do when they gather.
• Discussion Formats: Good facilitation is often reflected in crowd participation.
• Creative Expression in Facilitation: Creative expression like writing, collaging, or visualizing goals are great ways to break through various communication differences and allow participants to customize how they participate.
• Collaborative Visioning Processes