Action & Impact: Strategies for Community Improvement

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Do you want to improve your community? Do you know how? 

This course will focus on strategies to identify and implement constructive solutions to community problems. These solutions often require government resources, such as in the form of budget allocation and effective expenditures. To ensure this happens, citizens can organize to advance their priorities.

Such locally led efforts can be rewarding and lead to meaningful change; however, they require that citizens do remain active, invest time, energy, planning, and careful review of the issue(s) at hand. They must consider different perspectives, intended or unintended consequences, and what trade-offs may be necessary. Engaging with government officials in a regular and iterative manner may be required, along with a willingness to hold officials accountable to commitments.

The most effective strategies are evidence-based, requiring accurate information and advocacy tools. You may wonder: Is progress actually possible? Where do I begin? Will authorities ever listen to me?

This course is designed to equip you with the practical tools necessary to organize your efforts. You will: assess your current capabilities and areas for improvement, identify allies, better understand those with different perspectives, understand how to access information, establish advocacy and organizing practices, improve your communication skills, and learn how to evaluate your progress. This will allow you to begin designing a realistic roadmap for action to achieve your goals within your community.