The document outlines the importance of public participation in project development, emphasizing that local residents possess valuable insights that can shape successful outcomes. It highlights various educational theories, such as cooperative learning and multiple intelligences, to promote deeper understanding through collaboration. The workshop advocates for structured group activities to foster engagement, gather feedback, and empower community involvement in decision-making.

1. Della G. Rucker, AICP, CEcD www.wiseeconomy.com National Town Meeting on Main Street May 22, 2011 The Wise Economy Workshop Public Participation That Does Your Project Good

2. Why do Public Participation? What do we know about the way people learn? How can we use that? Group Activities Report Out

3. “ ______ says we haveta do it….. <sigh>”

4. “ If people see all the great things this project will do, I bet most of them will get on board.”

5. “ If someone has concerns over this project, I would rather we know at the beginning so that we can address them and defuse the opposition.”

6. “ We need to know what people want for this project so that we can design something that people will support.”

7. “ Our residents and business operators have unique knowledge and perspective . We need to tap that to help us find the best possible solutions.”

10. Their perspective Their good ideas Their constructive criticism Their meaningful support

12. Gives people the information they need Helps them make sense of the issues Helps them form sound opinions

13. Help them form and articulate their ideas Help them give us constructive feedback Capture their ideas in a form that we can understand and use

15. Small Group Cooperative Learning Theory (Edwin Glaeser) Multiple Intelligences (Howard Gardner)

16. People grasp complex concepts better when they construct their own knowledge , rather than having it fed to them. Just learning facts is not meaningful learning . When people have the opportunity to create meaning as a result of working intensively and collaboratively with information, they will understand on a deeper level and be able to use the information in a more sophisticated and original fashion. People often learn from peers better than they learn from authority figures.

17. Different people learn best in different ways. A minority of people learn best from lectures or written text. Other types of intelligence include: Visual Spatial Verbal Kinetic Audial Etc.

18. Use structured small groups for activities that will directly feed into recommendations. Challenge and empower people to work together and learn from each other in a safe setting.

19. Provide many options for feedback. Decentralize activities and limit audiences to maximize participation.

20. Divide into groups Do one activity: Vision Development SWOT brainstorm What Would you Do? Rotate! Report out on experience Visual Preference Survey What’s the Big Idea? Your Town Tomorrow Downtown Pictionary

22. Thank you! Della G. Rucker, AICP, CEcD Principal The Wise Economy Workshop Phone: 513-288-6613 [email_address] www.wiseeconomy.com Facebook: Della Rucker Aicp Cecd Twitter: @dellarucker LinkedIn: Della Rucker