Hampton's "True" Civic Engagment model



So we (the Neighborhood Office) are exploring this year what "true" Civic engagement is, what our most effective role should be within the city, and how we can strengthen neighborhoods in Hampton. No small task by any stretch. To really understand what we need to do we have to understand what has been done.

The work that was started here over 15 years ago to find better ways for citizens and government to work together (in partnership), was revolutionary at the time. The early 90's in Hampton saw other revolutionary programs around drug prevention, positive youth development, healthy family, and youth in government. The city leaders (most being Hampton residents as well) knew that the city's work needed to be done differently. They no longer wanted to develop plans, programs, and policies, only for them to be opposed or resented by the citizens they were working to serve. Trust of local government was quite low.

The short story version was that the leaders gathered and agreed upon a new Neighborhood Initiative that would change the way decisions were made. No longer would a professional make a decision in isolation based on their best understanding. Now, those with the greatest interest in the decisions (residents, property, and business owners) would be the ones to influence the decisions through deliberative discussions.

This type of initiative was largely unheard of from within a local government and even today large metro areas are still slow to adapt true civic engagement principles. The local leaders had to use their best judgment and advice of the citizens they serve and create a new way of doing business in Hampton. From that a body of community leaders, institutional representatives, business leaders, and city leaders was appointed by the city council to strengthen our neighborhoods and affect positive change. Leaders worked with staff to shape the future of the city and establish long term plans. They begin to build networks of residents, organizations, and leaders that had an interest, a dream for a better community, a hope in the power of collaboration.

Through the years they saw many successes in safety (second/third safest city in Hampton Roads), youth (nationally recognized youth civic engagement initiative), community enhancement (over $1 mil given to neighborhoods for public improvement), leadership development (Youth Leadership Academy, Neighborhood College & Workshop Series), education (beautification, volunteerism, and leadership). But with all great initiatives, challenges with sustainability of innovation and motivation are always looming overhead.

So we find ourselves, especially as the economy and communication media have changed, we must look for the next revolutionary approach the allows for a sustainable approach. Very few of those that developed the vision of neighborhood partnership are still around today. Retirements, advancements, health, societal changes have left us with a fewer founding faces, forgotten history, old ways, and lots of new tools.

There are now numerous opportunities for the "re-invention," "re-energizing," and "re-adoption" of the founding principles of the original Neighborhood Initiative. However, challenges lie in identifying and energizing the new "trust agents" (from Chris Brogan) in the community, renewing a sense of hope in collaboration, and celebrating the amazing things that one small community can achieve with shared efforts.

Next Post: How simple is community involvement needed to make a positive change?