Library: How-To Tips: Supporting action efforts at a number of levels

One key to success in democratic governance work is changing your expectations of citizens. It should be clear, from the beginning, that participants are expected to lend some of their own time and energy to the action efforts they generate: the project will do more than just generate recommendations for others to implement.

It doesn't necessarily matter what kinds of actions participants decide to take. The important thing is that they do something: volunteering to help organizations already working on the issue, working in committees or task forces to implement an idea, working within the community organizations they already belong to, or finding ways to affect the policymaking process.

When you are trying to help citizens implement their action ideas, there are a number of other strategies to consider:

Helping people make connections

Using large-group events to provide deadlines, support, and recognition

People are more likely to follow through on their promises if they make those commitments publicly in front of a large group of people – AND if they know that they will have to report on their progress at a similar meeting in the future. Whether you are trying to encourage individual volunteers who have signed up to help a cause, small action groups who will be working on a particular action idea, or public officials who have promised to use the input they have received, large-group meetings are critical as both a carrot and a stick.

Helping people find resources

Finding resources can be a daunting challenge, but that is partly because people tend to overlook some of the connections and opportunities that are closest at hand. It may be helpful to provide action groups with assistance in fundraising, grantwriting, or similar skills, but make sure you also look to the leaders and stakeholders who already know about the project. The people who serve on your steering committee, or who have attended one of the events, may represent organizations which can provide in-kind or financial resources. They may also know who to talk to in the community to find particular kinds of grants, services, or other forms of assistance. Also, remind action groups that the other residents living in the community (or people who work there) represent a wealth of skills, talents, connections, and other resources themselves. Even if those people did not participate in the meetings, they may be willing and able to contribute to action efforts.

Helping people use data to support their efforts

People are more likely to gain funding and political support for their action ideas if they are able to back up their arguments with research. Many organizers have been able to accomplish this by connecting citizens with university professors or public employees who have the relevant skills and knowledge.

Enlisting the media to help tell the story

Reporters sometimes don’t know how to cover democratic governance projects, especially if there are no dramatic conflicts at stake. They often consider these kinds of meetings to be ‘just talk.’ However, once citizens are actively working to implement their ideas, reporters are quicker to recognize the outlines of the story. It is helpful to contact the media in the early stages of your effort, partly as a way of beginning the relationship – but it is critical to reach out to them as the action forum approaches and as action groups begin moving forward. Articles in the newspaper and segments on television or radio can help to legitimize action efforts and give residents a jolt of confidence and recognition.

Giving people a sense of legitimacy

Once people begin working on an action idea, particularly if it has something to do with public policy, they often start to wonder “Who are we to be doing this?” “Will the ‘powers that be’ ever take us seriously?” Some action groups have even asked a city council or some other elected body to give them an official title and formally commit to considering the group’s conclusions. Whenever possible, work with public officials and other decision-makers to help ‘legitimize’ the groups – an official title may be useful, but it may be even more powerful for a decision-maker to tell the group in public why their work will be influential and appreciated.