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<br />~-tf.~ <br /> <br />INSTITUTE LAUNCHES COUABORA TIVE GOVERNANCE INITIATIVE <br /> <br />PROMOTING EFFECTIVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN LOCAL AGENCIES AND THE COMNIJNITIES THEY SERVE <br /> <br />As part of the Institute for Local (Self)* use in California and throughout the United States <br />Government's ongoing efforts to promote public <br />confidence in local government, the Institute has <br />established the Collaborative Governance <br />Initiative. The goal of this effort is to help local <br />officials effectively navigate the growing number of <br />options available for community engagement that . Educational workshops and sessions at <br />can maximize the public's connection with its local League and Institute meetings <br />officials. <br /> <br />A growing chorus of voices in and outside of <br />government is stressing the importance of involv- <br />ing communities in the policymaking that affects <br />them. For example, a recent Research Briefof <br />the Public Policy Institute of California called for -a <br />need to inform and motivate citizens about partici- <br />pation beyond the ballot box. and stated that, <br />-greater outreach efforts.. .are necessary to <br />reduce gaps in participation between various <br />demographic groups.. <br /> <br />Collaborative governance is a term increas- <br />ingly used to describe how reasoned discussions <br />by the public can be applied to the decision- <br />making of elected representatives, especially <br />when such approaches are embedded in the <br />workings of local governance over time. <br /> <br />The Institute's Collaborative Governance <br />Initiative will offer a number of specific products <br />and services. These include: <br /> <br />. Guides for assessing when and how to use <br />collaborative governance strategies, and for <br />measuring their success <br /> <br />. Summaries of cases and lessons by topic <br />areas (such as housing, ethics and budgeting) <br />where such civic engagement approaches have <br />been applied <br /> <br />. Telephone and (initially limited) on-site <br />assistance to local officials wishing to consult on <br />civic engagement opportunities and challenges <br /> <br />. Resource lists identifying and explaining <br />major participatory and deliberative practices in <br /> <br />. Strategies to encourage fuller and more <br />inclusive participation by traditionally less involved <br />populations <br /> <br />. Opportunities for interested local officials to <br />interact with practitioners and members of the <br />academic community involved in collaborative <br />governance work <br /> <br />. If further funding is secured, small mini- <br />grants may be available to help local officials and <br />agencies initiate such civic engagement efforts <br /> <br />. Opportunities to easily identify and commu- <br />nicate with other local officials who have adopted <br />collaborative governance activities. <br /> <br />Terry Amsler directs the Collaborative Gover- <br />nance Initiative and may be reached at <br />tamslertmcacities.ora and at (916) 658-8263. <br />Watch the Institute's Website for more details on <br />the initiative as it takes form. The National League <br />of Cities, the William and Flora Hewlett Founda- <br />tion, and the League of California Cities presently <br />provide support for the Collaborative Governance <br />Initiative. <br /> <br />*As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the <br />Institute is in the process of streamlining its name <br />to become the -Institute for Local Governmene <br /> <br />For more information on this and <br />other ILSG issues, visit www.ilsg.org. <br /> <br />PRIORITY FOCUSIPAGE 3 <br /> <br />Visit the League's Official Web Siteuwww.cacities.org <br />