Engaging Communities Through Issues Forums

THE FORUM AGENDA – THE FLOW AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES 1. Ground the Content of the Issue with Facts and Context

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2. Our Story — Just the Facts and Context, Please

Case Studies Connect Participants to Each Other and the Personal Side of Issues

Our Story — Stories Connect People

3. Moving from Ideas to Actions - Strategic Doing™

Using Strategic Doing™ During the Forum Our Story — Strategic Doing in Practice

4. 5.

Resource Table

Post-Forum Activities

Our Story — Post-Forum Tales

WHY AND HOW SHOULD WE EVALUATE THE FORUM?

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Why Collect Evaluation Data?

How and When Should We Collect Data? 68 Our Story — How Knowledge, Confidence and Conditions Began to Change 70

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FORUM?

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Communication

Action and Accountability

Publicize Outcomes

Our Story: Keep on Keeping On

CONCLUSION

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Our Story — The End or a New Beginning

RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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1. Naming and Framing Issues

2. Resources to Engage with Communities 3. Community Issue Forum Examples 4. Resources for Farm and Farm Family Resilience

TOOLS TO USE IN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING A FORUM

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Tool 1: Situation Analysis and Naming and Framing Worksheet 86 Tool 2: Engaging Community — Identifying Community Capitals Worksheet 87 Tool 3: Considerations for In-Person or Online/Virtual Forums 88 Tool 4: Forum Budget Planning Template 91 Tool 5: A Planning Timeline and Checklist 92 Tool 6: Suggested Progression & Agenda Items for Planning Committee Meetings 96 Tool 7: Preparing for the Forum Day Checklist 97

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