Now that you have learned about all of the planning, thought, and processes that go into establishing and managing a Workgroup with community members, please refer to the prompts in the checklist below to ensure that you are following all essential steps as you plan and execute your Workgroup.
Using the SPICE model, plan for the following types of community interaction:
Now that you have the concepts, let’s go through some examples so you can better understand how to apply them. Three things I understand, we never have enough time, we never have enough money, we never have enough people. And we still have to get the job done and get it done well. The practice opportunities below will give you the opportunity to think through and plan your approach so that when you are faced with a task and don’t have enough time, money, and people, you can still be effective and the work you can produce can better serve all in Washington.
Workgroup managers should actively encourage feedback from workgroup members to understand where they are succeeding and where their approach needs improvement. It is not enough to passively accept feedback or claim to have an “open door policy.” Rather, workgroup managers should proactively seek out feedback from workgroup members.
Reflecting back on all the work and planning that was done to establish a workgroup that is inclusive of people with marginalized lived experience, assess your efforts by asking if you completed all of the steps recommended in this toolkit. Ask yourself, did you...
Develop and implement a process for receiving and analyzing community member experience and the agency’s broader community engagement strategy. This is critical to understand where improvements must be made for a more relational government; a government that can successfully collaborate with community members to advance a government of, by, and for the people. Do not rely on agency staff experience alone. Remember, government is in the position of institutional power, so the community members must inform how well government collaborates.
7 Pit Stops Toward a Belonging State document is a comprehensive framework that illustrates various components that individuals, agencies, or workgroups can utilize and embed in their approach to working together in a mutually beneficial way. To effectively co-create and advance equity, justice and belonging for all Washingtonians, we must be aware of how we are showing up whether for ourselves or others.
Onboarding must be completed via a face-to-face meeting (either virtual or in-person) with the workgroup manager and new members. New members, especially those from underrepresented populations or who are new to government engagement, may feel intimidated or unsure of their role, so it is important to establish a safe, welcoming environment where they can freely ask questions and be brought into the project at their own pace.
When recruiting community members for workgroup involvement, government staff must seek community members, actively finding them through the methods they seek information and where they are in public spaces. Recruitment must be active instead of passive. We must find and meet people where they are, and not expect them to come to you. Too often, information about a new workgroup soliciting new member applications can only be found in an agency’s newsletter or deep within their website.
Disability occurs across every racial, ethnic, language, gender and social group. The intersection of these complex identities can create unique experiences of discrimination and oppression. Taking time to educate yourself about the disability community helps foster understanding and empathy, breaking down stereotypes and misconceptions.
Before any external communication, applications, scheduling, or meetings take place, the project manager should understand the project intent, goals and process, including any relevant timelines or deadlines and who must be included for the workgroup to successfully complete its work. Planning cannot be overlooked; it is the primary building block for every decision that follows.