Outreach

Question 1

Coffee Klatch

Answer 1

Small meetings within
neighborhood usually at a person’s
home

Question 2

City Walk

Answer 2

This technique used to sensitize people to community problems and opportunities. In this technique a group of community leaders re-experience their community and then draw on their observations to recommend planning policies or standards. The planners role is to provide specific instructions for the participants to experience the community and then record their observations. These observations are then shared in a workshop.

Take a Walk in the City

Question 3

Plebiscite

Answer 3

Ballot or vote on a specific issue

Question 4

Bridging

Answer 4

A technique that planners can use to reframe controversial issues, responding to opponents while also recasting how the issue is viewed. The trick is to use transitional phrases to stay on message when asked a question that could take you off topic.

Question 5

How should a planner handle media?

Answer 5

APA suggests the need to proactively build relationships with reporters. Planners do not need to wait for reporters to call, they should cultivate media contact, issue press releases or writing letters to the editor, for example. The focus is on communicating the benefits and positive outcomes of planning.

Media should also be used in the visioning process.

Question 6

Should social media be used?

Answer 6

Social media is now a must for planning communication. Navigating the associated First Amendment issues can be difficult, and although social media has been around for 10 years, there is a lack of case law about how to use social media for municipalities and public entities. One rule of thumb is that planners should not automatically delete a negative comment. They can however, screen comments that are obscene, personal or mean-spirited (see the comments policy for Annapolis, Maryland).

Facebook, Twitter, Insta, Blogs, etc.

Question 7

What layers does a Message Pyramid have?

Answer 7

A Message Pyramid consists of a Key Message on top, a First Proof layer in the middle, and a Second Proof layer at the bottom. Key Messages should be long-lasting and consistent statements, regardless of situation. They should create an environment and a belief system among your key audiences.

Question 8

Appreciative Inquiry Process

Answer 8

Envision and form goals for a positive future based on inspiring stories and what’s currently working. Highly engaging, grassroots style. Connects the community by
celebrating stories that reflect the best of what is and has been.

Appreciative Inquiry is a facilitated process to discover past and current practices that inform and inspire participants as they strive to collaboratively create and implement an ideal future. Unlike many decision-making processes that focus on what is not working, Appreciative Inquiry focuses on what is already working or and where people want to increase what is working. It does not focus on the identification or solving of problems, but rather envisioning and creating a positive future. It involves selecting topics of shared interest for inquiry, conducting structured interviews to bring out stories that reveal the best of the past – or what has worked – and identifying themes to help plan the future. Appreciative Inquiry is a systematic process that uses the art and practice of asking questions and building upon stories to foster innovation and imagination.

Question 9

Citizen Jury

Answer 9

Small group of ordinary citizens empanelled to learn about an issue, crossexamine witnesses, make a recommendation. Always nonbinding with no legal standing.

Resource intensive. Public can relate to “citizens” on board.

Question 10

Computer-Assisted Meetings

Answer 10

Any meetings where computers are used to assist getting opinions

Immediate graphic results prompt focused discussion
Areas of agreement/ disagreement easily portrayed
Minority views are honored
Responses are private
Levels the playing field

Question 11

Deliberative Dialogues

Answer 11

A deliberative meeting to bring a small group of people (8-20) together on a complex/controversial issue, where there is a lot uncertainty about the solution, to find a common ground of action.

Question 12

Deliberative Polling Process

Answer 12

Measures informed opinion on an issue

Can tell decision makers what the public would think if they had more time and information
Exposure to different backgrounds, arguments and views

Resource intensive
Often held in conjunction with television companies
2- to 3-day meeting

Question 13

DIALOGUE TECHNIQUES

Answer 13

An intentional form of
communication that
supports the creation of
shared meaning.

The group engages in “the art of
thinking together” and creates
shared meaning on a difficult issue.

A new understanding of a problem
or opportunity emerges.

Question 14

FISHBOWL PROCESSES

Answer 14

meeting where decision makers
do their work in a “fishbowl” so
that the public can openly view

Transparent decision making.

Decision makers are able to gauge
public reaction in the course of
their deliberations.

Question 15

FOCUSED CONVERSATIONS

Answer 15

A structured approach to exploring a challenging situation or difficult issue
by using a series of questions marranged in four stages:
Objective — Review facts
Reflective —Review emotional response
Interpretive — Review meaning
Decisional — Consider future action

Question 16

FOCUS GROUPS

Answer 16

Good for getting together key stakeholders to either discuss a critical issue or present a planning initiative and present it to them first.

OR

Message testing forum with randomly selected members of target audience. Can also be used to obtain input on planning decisions

Provides opportunity to test key
messages prior to implementing
program

Works best for select target
audience

May require payment of participants

Question 17

FUTURE SEARCH

Answer 17

Focuses on the future of an organization, a network of people or community

Can involve hundreds of people simultaneously in major organizational change decisions

Individuals are experts

Can lead to substantial changes across entire organization

Question 18

OPEN SPACE MEETINGS

Answer 18

Participants offer topics and others participate according to interest

Important to have a powerful theme or vision statement to generate topics

Provides structure for giving people opportunity and responsibility to create valuable
product or experience

Need a facility to accommodate potentially a large group of people

Important issues can get lost in the shuffle

Question 19

PANELS

Answer 19

A group assembled to debate or provide input on specific issues

Most appropriate to show different news to public

Panelists must be credible with public

Provides opportunity to dispel misinformation

Can build credibility if all sides are represented

Question 20

Public Hearings

Answer 20

Formal meetings with scheduled
presentations off ered. Typically,
members of the public individually
state opinions/positions that are
recorded

No dialogue - ineffective at building public participation and consensus.

Opportunity for public to speak about an issue

Can perpetuate a “us” vs “them” mentality

Question 21

Public Meeting

Answer 21

An organized large-group
meeting usually used to
make a presentation and
give the public an opportunity to
ask questions and give comments.
Public meetings are open to the
public at large

Participants hear relevant
information and have an open
opportunity to ask questions and
comment.
People learn more by hearing
others’ questions and comments.
Legal requirements are met

The meeting escalates out of
control because emotions are high.
Facilitators are not able to establish
an open and neutral environment
for all views to be shared.

Question 22

Samoan Circles

Answer 22

Leaderless meeting that stimulates active participation

4 people sit in the center who talk, others observe, switch out

10-500 people

Can have intimate discussions with a large group of people

Question 23

STUDY CIRCLES

Answer 23

A highly participatory
process for involving
numerous small groups in
making a diff erence in their
communities.

Study circles work best if multiple
groups working at the same time
in diff erent locations and then
come together to share.

Large numbers of people are
involved without having them all
meet at the same time and place.

Question 24

SYMPOSIA

Answer 24

A meeting or conference to
discuss a particular topic involving
multiple speakers.

Provides an opportunity for
presentations by experts with
diff erent views on a topic.
Requires upfront planning to
identify appropriate speakers.
Needs strong publicity.

Question 25

WORLD CAFES

Answer 25

A meeting process
featuring a series of
simultaneous
conversations in response to
predetermined questions
Participants change tables
during the process and focus on
identifying common ground in
response to each question

Room set-up is important. The
room should feel conducive
to a conversation and not as
institutional as the standard
meeting format.
Allows for people to work in small
groups without staff facilitators.
Think through how to
bring closure to the series of
conversations.

Question 26

Nominal Group Technique

Answer 26

A group process involving problem identification, solution generation, and decision making that can be used for groups of any size that want to come to a decision by vote. This allows for everyone’s opinions to be considered by starting with every group member sharing their ideas briefly. Someone is creating a list of ideas. Duplicate solutions are deleted. Participants then rank the solutions. The rankings are then discussed. This can lead to further ideas or combinations of ideas. The solution with the highest ranking is selected.

Question 27

Brainstorming

Answer 27

An informal approach to gathering input in the initial stages of a project, or in trying to determine goals. It usually occurs within a small internal group setting, such as planning staff, agency leads, or commission members.

Question 28

Mediation

Answer 28

A method in which a neutral third party facilitates discussion in a structured multi-stage process to help parties reach a satisfactory agreement. The mediator assists the parties in identifying and articulating their interests and priorities. The agreement typically specifies measurable, achievable, and realistic solutions. The final agreement is typically in writing. This is a dispute-resolution process that is typically used to help resolve conflict without involving the court system.

Question 29

Facilitation

Answer 29

Uses a person who does not have a direct stake in the outcome of a meeting to help groups that disagree work together to solve complex problems and come to a consensus. The facilitator is typically a volunteer from the community who is respected by all groups. In some cases, a professional facilitator is hired to assist in running the meeting.

Question 30

Ripple Effect Mapping (REM)

Answer 30

A method used in evaluation to engage key stakeholders in assessing the impact of community engagement. Participants look back over a period of time and create a visual map of direct or indirect impacts of community engagement.

Question 31

Who made the Ladder of Citizen Participation?

Answer 31

Sherry Arnstein

Question 32

What are the three overall types of citizen participation according to Arnstein?

Answer 32

1) Citizen Power
2) Tokenism
3) Non particiaption

Question 33

What are the 8 steps of the ladder of citizen participation?

Answer 33

Citizen Control, Delegated Powers, Partnership
Placation, Consultation, Informing
Therapy, Manipulation

Question 34

Do mail surveys have high or low response rates?

Answer 34

Low (20%)

Question 35

What is the Oregon Model?

Answer 35

First place to do Community Visioning

5 Steps:

1) Where are we now?
2) Where are we going?
3) Where do we want to be?
4) How do we get there?
5) Are we getting there?

Question 36

community benefits agreements (CBAs)

Answer 36

A Community Benefits Agreement or “CBA” is a contract signed by community groups and a real estate developer that requires the developer to provide specific amenities and/or mitigations to the local community or neighborhood. Site-specific community benefits agreements (CBAs) ensure that particular projects create opportunities for local workers and communities.

Question 37

When interviewing a resident about their opinions, what kind of statistical bias are you most likely to experience?

Answer 37

Recall bias occurs when interviewees present incorrect accounts or inaccurate data due to shortcomings of their own memory. This could easily happen in an interview setting.
The correct answer is:
Recall bias

Question 38

Which of the following statements about community benefits agreements (CBAs) are not accurate?

a. Agreements may not be enforceable if the coalitions who signed them dissolve after signing.
b. Agreements can be private contracts or contracts enforced by local governments.
c. Agreements cannot promise local hiring quotas.
d. Agreements must be related to one specific development project.

Answer 38

Several CBAs have used local hiring as one of the enumerated benefits agreed upon by developers and community groups, notably one of the first CBAs, an agreement between Staples Center developers and Los Angeles residents.
The correct answer is:
Agreements cannot promise local hiring quotas.