Advocacy organization that assists communities engaged in civic renewal by strengthening their capacity for collaborative problem solving.
Activities
As described on website, the National Civic League (NCL) provides a “Full-array of services—from ‘hands-on’ skills (facilitation, training, coaching and lectures) to longer-term support (multi-stakeholder collaboratives, community driven decision-making processes, and analytical research).” Through Community Services and the Partnership for Community Problem Solving, NCL provides technical assistance, training and diagnostic tools for citizens to assess community civic health. Technical assistance includes strategic planning, visioning, and facilitation.
Relevant Project(s)
- Erie, Colorado. Erie is a fast-growing community twenty miles north of Denver.
Tired of the high degree of conflict regarding the issue and impacts of growth, the Town of Erie asked NCL to facilitate an intense project that convened 150 stakeholders that represented the diverse views and interests within the community. The project provided safe space for challenging dialogue and produced consensus on a number of areas. The town and its citizens are currently working on the implementation of a number of these areas. - Community-Based Visioning and Strategic Planning in Teaneck, New Jersey. The Township of Teaneck recently completed a community-wide vision and strategic plan for community improvement. Supported by the township, organizers engage citizens from all perspectives, beliefs and backgrounds to plot the course for the township's future. "We have several pressing issues and we need to have a safe public space for dialogue to address them", says Helene V. Fall, Municipal Manager of Teaneck. The Community Services team of the National Civic League provided assistance in designing the strategic planning process and on-site facilitation of meetings.
Relevant Methodologies
Stakeholder analysis, visioning, community profiling, action planning, and implementation. Utilizes community assessment tools such as the Civic Index, Community Collaborative Wellness Tool, and Building Civic Capital.
Region
National; locations in Denver and Washington D.C.
More Information
http://www.ncl.org/cs/services/index.html
Washington, D.C.
202-783-2961 (phone)
202-347-2161 (fax)
Carolyn Abdullah, carolyn@ncldc.org