Table of Contents >
   Part B. Community Assessment, Agenda Setting, and Choice ... >
      Chapter 3. Assessing Community Needs and Resources >
         Section 3. Conducting Public Forums and Listening Sessions >
             Tools & Checklists - A checklist that summarizes the major points contained in the section. >

Conducting Public Forums and Listening Sessions

  

Tools & Checklists

 Contributed by Vince Francisco and Jerry Schultz Edited by Bill Berkowitz

Checklist

Here, you'll find checklists that summarize the major points contained in the text.


You understand that public forums:

____ give people of diverse backgrounds a chance to express their views

____ are a first step toward understanding the community's needs and resources


You have gathered the following things you need to conduct a public forum:

____ meeting place

____ community members

____ easel/newsprint /markers

____ facilitator

____ recorder

____ willingness to listen carefully


Issues and Concerns

You have asked yourself the following questions:

____ What are the problems?

____ What are the consequences?

____ Who is affected?

____ How are they affected?

____ Are there related issues of concern?

____ Are these issues of widespread concern?


Barriers

You have asked yourself the following questions:

____ Who or what might oppose efforts to prevent or solve the problem?

____ Can they be involved effectively?

____ What are the other limits on effective prevention/treatment?

____ How can the barriers and resistance be overcome?


Resources for Change

You have asked yourself the following questions:

____ What resources are needed?

____ What local people or groups could contribute?

____ What monies and materials are needed?

____ Where might they be obtained?


Alternatives and Solutions

You have asked yourself the following question:

____ What are alternatives for addressing the problem, given the anticipated barriers?


Organizing a public forum

You have taken the following steps:

____ Holding meetings at different sites to get real representation.

____ Scheduling the forum at an easy-to-find, public location which is accessible and comfortable

____ If possible, holding the forum in the evening to avoid time conflicts with work and school.

____ Publicized the forum as widely possible.

____ Personally recruited community leaders and diverse community members to attend the meetings, and asked them to recruit others as well.

____ Provided transportation to the meeting if necessary.

____ Served light refreshments if possible.


Conducting a public forum

You have taken the following steps:

____ Designated a discussion leader or group facilitator

____ Introduced the leader of the community initiative and the discussion leader, and, if time and group size allowed, let all participants introduce themselves.

____ Agreed upon an ending time, and kept to it.

____ Kept working groups to smaller than 30-40 participants, or, if over that number, divided into smaller groups.

____ Designated a recorder for each group.

____ Provided information about your own organization, if appropriate.

____ Considered allowing some time for addressing such topics as issues and concerns; barriers and resistance to addressing the issues and concerns; community resources for change; recommended alternatives and solutions.

____ Used newsprint to record the discussion on each of the topics.

____ Concluded with a summary of what was achieved and a preliminary plan of action.

____ Announced the next meeting if possible.

____ Prepared a written summary of brainstorming ideas and mail to all participants, with thanks, and with mention of opportunities for further involvement.