Comments on: Toronto Civics 101 http://www.creativitykilledtherecession.com/toronto-civics-101/ Wed, 26 May 2010 17:47:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: adil http://www.creativitykilledtherecession.com/toronto-civics-101/comment-page-1/#comment-245 adil Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:23:48 +0000 http://www.creativitykilledtherecession.com/?p=412#comment-245 I'm glad you asked Mark as this is the area where I think 101 stands to improve the most in. My impression is that the organizers hopes were that attendees would go 'spread the word' (about Toronto's challenges, services, awesome Mayor, etc.) and this alone would justify 101's value. There is a grassroots element that i like to this but with so much potential in the room, I couldn't help but feel like we left a lot on the table when we walked away. 101 was new so I don't know if there was much, if any planning, into post-101. I do expect that next time around, there will be something more than a speech about it 'actually being the beginning and not the end'. Well, I expect that speech but anticipate (hope), that the organizers realized that they can leverage more from those who attended. One simple idea would be to close out 101 with an open house for the many organizations in the city who are need of citizens to help in different ways. The issue of homelessness, for example, interested a large amount of attendees. Why couldn't organizers from a shelter or two be there with a "sign up to help" sign? People at 101 seemed inclined to help but at the end weren't sure where to go - bridging that gap would be valuable. If this idea is too intensive, the same results could even be achieved by simply asking participants what area/topics/issues they would like to be further involved and following up with them after with places or people to connect with. What are your thoughts? It sounds like you have an opinion on what qualifies something as being successful in its attempts for engagement. I’m glad you asked Mark as this is the area where I think 101 stands to improve the most in. My impression is that the organizers hopes were that attendees would go ’spread the word’ (about Toronto’s challenges, services, awesome Mayor, etc.) and this alone would justify 101’s value. There is a grassroots element that i like to this but with so much potential in the room, I couldn’t help but feel like we left a lot on the table when we walked away.

101 was new so I don’t know if there was much, if any planning, into post-101. I do expect that next time around, there will be something more than a speech about it ‘actually being the beginning and not the end’. Well, I expect that speech but anticipate (hope), that the organizers realized that they can leverage more from those who attended.

One simple idea would be to close out 101 with an open house for the many organizations in the city who are need of citizens to help in different ways. The issue of homelessness, for example, interested a large amount of attendees. Why couldn’t organizers from a shelter or two be there with a “sign up to help” sign? People at 101 seemed inclined to help but at the end weren’t sure where to go – bridging that gap would be valuable. If this idea is too intensive, the same results could even be achieved by simply asking participants what area/topics/issues they would like to be further involved and following up with them after with places or people to connect with.

What are your thoughts? It sounds like you have an opinion on what qualifies something as being successful in its attempts for engagement.

]]> By: Mark Kuznicki http://www.creativitykilledtherecession.com/toronto-civics-101/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Mark Kuznicki Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:51:41 +0000 http://www.creativitykilledtherecession.com/?p=412#comment-244 I'm very interested in what exactly the participants in Civics101 feel that they are being engaged TO DO. The question I always ask when someone talks about citizen engagement is this: What are we engaging citizens to do? I'm interested in your perspective on this and what you heard from other Civics 101 participants. I’m very interested in what exactly the participants in Civics101 feel that they are being engaged TO DO. The question I always ask when someone talks about citizen engagement is this: What are we engaging citizens to do? I’m interested in your perspective on this and what you heard from other Civics 101 participants.

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