Sample Facilitation Cases
Connecticut Avenue Estates: Working with the
local citizens’ association, we
facilitated a series of meetings, which brought neighbors together to
address a
chronic parking problem. In the space of
six weeks the neighbors developed a plan to resolve the problem: build
more driveways. The county agreed to provide loans or grants
to support construction, and the citizens’ association asked
contractors for
volume discounts, which they got.
Another problem addressed through this problem
solving process was safety. During the
six-week period residents came together to form a Neighborhood Watch Program
working directly with their area police. Then, they worked together to clean up
a tot lot at the end of a cul de sac, which had become unusable due to broken
glass, rusted playground equipment and knee high weeds. They asked the county to provide new
playground equipment, which they got before school let out for the summer.
The president of the association commented: “This process worked. It’s really helpful when an outside, objective
party comes in to filter problems down to a manageable cluster of issues.”
Master Plan Development:
Working
with the Park and Planning Commission, the Conflict Resolution Center of
Montgomery County (CRCMC) designed and facilitated a series of meetings for
residents, business owners, and developers in the Woodmont Triangle area of Bethesda. The results were a healthy dialogue among all
the participants, and a land-use plan that reflects a high degree of consensus
among the participants.
The
county planner said the discussions were quieter and less contentious than
usual, because community members were focused on taking action and finding
resolutions.
East County
Leadership Summit: Working with the East County Citizens Advisory
Board and the Eastern Montgomery Regional
Services Center,
we designed and facilitated a one-day “visioning” meeting for 200 East County
citizens as well as State and local lawmakers.
Results: A report to the County
Council on what is important to citizens in the areas of transportation,
housing, economic development, public safety, and education.
The
Director of the Services Center wrote in the final report: “If you were a Summit participant, you felt the camaraderie,
excitement, and dreams that ensued during the discussions and deliberations.”
