Citizens at the Center

[Becki Pauls]

Guiding Principle Three:  CITIZENS AT THE CENTER

 

Citizens at the center can engage the wider community. People in leadership in everyday life (associations, congregations, neighborhoods, and local business) must be at the center of community initiatives rather than just helping agency leaders. It is essential to engage the wider community as actors (citizens) not just as recipients of services (clients.)

 

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Discuss this principle by sharing your own ideas - or by answering one of the following questions:

 

Tell about a community that is centered on its citizens.  How did the story begin?

 

In your city, are the local citizen leaders driving community initiatives, or is it left to the agency leaders?

 

What ways have you found most effective in helping to bring associational leaders into the center of the community initiatives?

 

Have you ever tried to influence and agency of service provider to become more citizen centric?  What did you do and what was the final outcome?  What advice would you share with others who are trying to do the same thing?

 

Do you currently work in a system that does not hold citizens at the center of their work?   How does it feel to go to work each day?  What is your biggest dream for the agency?

[Linda Keys]

I like Al Etmanski's citizen archway, which has two pillars ('relationships' and 'contribution') upon which 'citizenship rests... (I think I've got that right!)

[renee stanley]

Helping the community to see what is similar and humanly familiar rather than the differences and barriers. It's a good start!