Identify potential Working Group participants.
Using the Working Group Assessment Template, list local leaders who could make strong candidates to join the Working Group. Key considerations include the organization they represent, influence, and responsibility to advance an equitable and regenerative development strategy for the community.
List individuals who are not active or typically underrepresented in neighborhood planning and community development activities. Key considerations include:
- Does the Working Group represent Black and historically disinvested communities of color?
- Does the Working Group include community members most at risk from and impacted by climate change?
If you identify an organization, but not a representative from that organization, inquire to identify the right staff member to participate on the Working Group based on their roles and responsibilities relative to the community.
Vet proposed Working Group participants.
Using the Working Group Assessment Template, assess the potential candidates by answering the following questions:
- Influence: Rank each of the stakeholder’s power and influence within the community (low to high).
- Trust: Rank each of the stakeholder levels of community trust (low to high).
- Capacity: Rank each of the stakeholder by level of capacity to lead and support in the organizing and planning for this work (low to high).
- Diversity: Identify and rank the stakeholder’s delve of diversity in terms of race, gender, age, income, and lived experience. (low to high).
Create a cumulative score for each candidate and reach out to determine their willingness to participate and what role they expect to play. Note this on the Working Group Assessment Template.
Confirm Working Group.
Using the results of the assessment above, finalize the Working Group by confirming final membership. Address any gaps or redundancies from the assessment to ensure the Working Group is representative and well positioned to lead this complex work.
Using the Working Group Charter Template, describe the purpose of the Working Group, roles and responsibilities, and key priorities and outcomes for the Working Group.
Engagement
- It is important to note that the Working Group is responsible primarily for leading the Groundwork Phase and helping to recruit the Governing Body.
- If there is conflict or disunity among Working Group members, third party mediation may be required to elevate and address issues and create ground rules for involvement.