The Formula – 4. Empower

Emergent Participation: participative planning that fows from the community

“Control of destiny – the ability of people to deal with the forces that affect their lives, even if they decide not to deal with them – is one of the most important factors in the cause of disease at the community level. It is also something for which we can develop meaningful interventions.”
– S. Leonard Syme, PhD, Health Research for Action Center, University of California Berkeley

Actions:

• 4a. Facilitate community sub-gatherings (pods):
  • Diverse stakeholders/shared interests
  • Open forum: listen/learn/consider
• 4b. Establish “safe” environments:
  • Post-gathering
  • Gather information in “public” display (web, bulletin boards, mass media, etc.)
  • Promote action orientation
• 4c. Organize the leaders (infuencers and authorities):
  • Collect aspirations (theirs and the community’s)
  • Create shared and comprehensive vision
  • Unify purpose/mission
• 4d. Identify talents and desires:
  • Special experience and interests
• 4e. Formalize process:
  • Community identifes teams (members)
  • Pods are “commissioned”
  • Integrate focus areas
  • Remain open

Resources:

• CoH Leadership
• Local research and facilitation (CBPR)
• Community citizens (i.e., residents and employees)
• Local infuencers and authorities

Deliverables:

• Planning and actions that emerge from cross-sector cooperation
• Vision, purpose and mission that represent the aspirations of the community