Start Network’s Post

In this episode we sit down with Sonia Bussu (PhD) and Koen Bartels from the University of Birmingham’s Department of Public Administration and Policy to delve into the findings of their recent INLOGOV report. The discussion centers around the concept of participatory culture and its critical role in enabling local governments to drive meaningful change. We explore the definition and significance of participatory culture, key findings from the report, and practical strategies for fostering such a culture within communities. Our guests share examples of successful participatory initiatives, discuss the challenges local governments face in implementing these practices, and offer methods for measuring their impact. We also highlight the role of citizens in shaping policies, the potential of technology to enhance participation, and the long-term benefits of a participatory culture for local governance. Finally, we address the importance of ensuring inclusivity and diversity in participatory initiatives, emphasizing the need to represent all community voices in the decision-making process. Join us for this engaging conversation as we explore how developing a participatory culture can empower local governments to deliver impactful change and build stronger, more inclusive communities.

Charting the path to progress. Where every policy leads to action! Public policy is the backbone of societal development—it shapes the rules by which we live and the quality of our collective life. It has the power to elevate communities, address societal challenges, and create frameworks for sustainable growth and equity. Effective public policy, therefore, is not just a road map for government action but a catalyst for positive change, touching every aspect of our daily lives. Join us as we illuminate the strategies behind each core service, illustrating our commitment to advancing change with every step. Dive deeper into our services by visiting our website in our bio. #PolicyForProgress #PublicPolicy #California

Yesterday I was thrilled to attend the Policy Network Conference which was expertly planned and managed by the Impact Policy Network My key takeaways were ensuring we use a mixed economy of options to ensure we capture accurate insights during public consultations. Knowing what people think and feel is important but then effectively managing this input is essential for building trust and creating policies that resonate with and serve our communities. I was particularly inspired by the emphasis on using co-production and early engagement to ensure EDI is central to the work we do. I am eager to apply these insights to my work in local government - focusing on inclusivity, collaboration and community driven approaches to policy making. #PolicyNetwork #LocalGovernment #SocialHousing #PublicEngagement #CoProduction #PublicService

🌟 #NewResearch ! 🌟 Do governments trust communities? This pivotal question was investigated in a groundbreaking research project by CRIS researchers Mark Duckworth PSM, Christine Horn, and Michele Grossman AM. Their project delves into the vital role trust plays in creating democratic, socially cohesive, and resilient societies. By examining the dynamics between governments and communities, the team uncovered critical insights into how they work together to tackle pressing issues such as violent extremism and natural disasters. One key finding? The importance of nurturing reciprocal personal relationships as a foundation for trust. For trust to flourish, these relationships require ongoing attention and care. Also, the flow of trust has significant implications for power dynamics in political decision-making, economic frameworks, urban planning, and service provision. Read the new report at the link below! What are your thoughts on this vital topic? Let’s discuss how we can foster trust between government and our communities! #Trust #CommunityEngagement #Collaboration #Resilience Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies (CRIS) https://lnkd.in/egHGx4ni

Are you trying to figure out the best way to evaluate equity in your economic development work? Check out these equity tools, developed by RTI International’s Jessica Wilkinson and Yewande O. Addie, Ph.D., MPH, which track alignment between desired equity goals and processes, highlight achievements, and identify areas for improvement.

HARC congratulates Dr. Margaret Cook, Deputy Director of Climate Equity and Resilience, on being selected to take part in The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Empowering Justice40 Communities Workshop Planning Committee. This planning committee’s stated objective is to organize a two-day workshop that will gather stakeholder input on implementing Community Benefit Agreements in federally-funded energy infrastructure projects as they relate to the Department of Energy’s Justice40 initiative. Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are legally binding contracts that are developed as a means to ensure local residents and neighborhoods directly benefit from large development projects or initiatives. CBAs aim to foster collaboration, equity, and accountability in development processes while providing tangible advantages from a project to the affected community. To learn more about Dr. Cook, visit bit.ly/MCookPhD To learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Empowering Justice40 Communities Workshop Planning Committee, visit bit.ly/43fDBnr #HARCresearch #Justice40 #CommunityBenefits

This "CCCN Systems Change Measurement Toolkit", empowers cities to measure their progress in increasing equitable access to nature. As many cities strive to ensure that all children can enjoy the benefits of nature, they face challenges like entrenched policies, power dynamics, and societal perceptions. Find it here https://is.gd/DFKywn Children & Nature Network

The idea of resilience is used more and more in policy design. Unfortunately, often without grasping the family dimension. Policymakers should incorporate a systemic view on resilience. This means: increase the support for families and reduce systemic inequity which can negatively affect resilience. We are pleased to recommend this new publication by our colleagues from the rEUsilience project. They recently published a scoping review focusing on how social scientists refer to resilience drawing parallel between the discussion on family and societal resilience. This review offers a timely and concise perspective on resilience as the response to certain risks such as health problems, caregiving needs, or poverty that is especially relevant for policymakers. Family resilience likely increases as external support structures increase. Policymakers reacting to demographic changes should ask themselves: 1.      Are we anticipating the needs of families when preparing for demographic change? 2.      Each family has their own agency in reacting to external shocks. What are risks for the agency of families and how can it be maintained? 3.      Which external support structures could help promote the agency of families? Find the rEUsilience scoping review here: https://lnkd.in/eEBfDnw4 How the FutuRes Policy Lab understands societal Resilience: https://lnkd.in/ehgfhXv7 Or read the full scoping review of the empirical literature here: https://lnkd.in/eyTY_kh9

Call for papers is out for our Special Issue in the International Journal of Public Sector Management! Feel free to drop us a line for any questions. #InternationalJournalofPublicSector #civilsocietyresearch #socialenterprise #valuecocreation #publicmanagement

What is Participatory Action Research (PAR)? A framework for involving communities in research that directly influences their lives. The City of Memphis and surrounding Shelby County experienced a high rate of young adults who were not working or in school. Learn how we used PAR to help these governments develop solutions to engage these young people. https://lnkd.in/gJ9CyY6k