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Better communication. Better relationships. Better social worlds.

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Community Engagement Projects

The CMM Institute is honored to showcase projects implemented by the Public Dialogue Consortium (PDC). The PDC was co-founded in 1995 by communication scholars Shawn Spano, Stephen Littlejohn, Barnett Pearce and Kim Pearce to help improve the quality of communication in public settings. The projects have spanned a 30-year period (1995-2025) with a very successful signature 6-year action research project in the City of Cupertino, California. The book Public Dialogue and Participatory Democracy written by Shawn Spano details the specifics of the Cupertino Project. A distinguishing feature of the PDC, and the reason for including their body of work on our website, is the use of CMM in all facets of public dialogue and community engagement projects. The CMM Institute plans to build upon the good work of the PDC in the coming months and years.

City of Milpitas Strategic Planning Process

Posted on  by Jen Mair

PDC
June 2013 – December 2015
PDC worked with the City of Milpitas to assist in the development of the City’s first-ever Strategic Plan. This multi-year project unfolded over four phases where city workers, city commission members, the chamber of commerce, the school district, faith based organizations, community organizations, and residents were asked to contribute input.
The development of the Strategic Plan and four phases proceeded along two parallel tracks; the first community engagement, the second City staff engagement.
• PDC engaged over 300 Milpitas community members in aspirational conversations about the future of the City, using a variety of methods such as one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions, and an online survey.
• In parallel, PDC assisted the Executive Management Team in the selection of 20 staff employees from different City departments to form an Employee Engagement Team (EET). PDC provided an extensive facilitation training program for EET members, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to engage their fellow employees in group discussions regarding the organizational and community environment. The EET then conducted over 25 small group discussions with 120 Milpitas employees.

San Bruno Community Foundation Listening Campaign

Posted on  by Jen Mair

PDC
April 2015 – June 2015
PDC was hired by the San Bruno Community Foundation to conduct a Community Engagement and Listening Campaign as a first step in the Foundation’s strategic planning process to determine how to effectively use the PG&E restitution funds to benefit the entire San Bruno community over the long term. This fast paced, five phase project engaged broad and diverse citizen participation to identify community needs, challenges, and visions for an enhanced quality of life for all San Bruno residents. The goals of the project were to engage the community in the planning process, educate the community about the Foundation and its activities, and gather input on community priorities and resources.
PDC worked with the Foundation Board of Directors, conducted community interviews, held focus groups and community meetings, and utilized online engagement to collect community input, and help identify community assets, needs, and priorities.
For additional project information: https://www.sbcf.org/community-listening-campaign

Santa Clara Levi’s Stadium Community Engagement

Posted on  by Jen Mair

PDC
December 2017 – June 2019
PDC worked with the City of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority to conduct a transparent and comprehensive engagement process to hear the community’s views on a variety of issues related to Levi’s Stadium.  PDC conducted community interviews, focus groups, community meetings, and utilized online surveys to collect input that was combined with a separate, quantitative survey effort conducted by the Lew Edwards Group. Input was summarized and presented to the Stadium Authority Board to assist them in making policy decisions related to the Stadium.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Vision Plan

Posted on  by Jen Mair

PDC
August 2012 – January 2014
The PDC worked with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) to assist with a comprehensive, district-wide community engagement project. Over 1,000 people participated in conversations about how they envision the future of open space across three counties in the San Francisco Bay area. These included focus group discussions with key stakeholders, one-on-one conversations with community members, and online input. A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was established, consisting of 35 members of the public representing the seven District wards. The CAC was actively involved in collecting community input, as well as analyzing and prioritizing the results.
The PDC worked with the District Board, staff, and the CAC to analyze community input, and to identify the values, goals, priorities, and action items for a “Vision Plan.” The Vision Plan was used to build support for a revenue measure that was approved by over 68% of voters in 2014.

Cupertino Community Project: Voices and Visions

Posted on  by Jen Mair

The Cupertino Community dialogues, our flagship project, began in March of 1996. Over a five-year period community members were engaged in numerous processes to explore a wide spectrum of issues affecting the quality of life in the community. Phase I consisted of a series of discussion groups to elicit concerns, visions, and ideas and to learn what issues were important to community members. Phase II addressed city issues identified in Phase I and consisted of inter-generational interviews and small group dialogues. It culminated with a creative Town Hall Meeting designed to expand the dialogue, explore issues constructively, and engage citizens and city officials in deliberations about future action. In Phase III the City Council spent time discussing citizen concerns and ideas and responded by hosting a two-day citywide leadership event. Phase IV was designed to institutionalize many of the processes established in the earlier stages of the project. A volunteer group of community members called the Citizens of Cupertino Cross Cultural Consortium (5Cs) led the dialogue process in the City for several years. The City continues to sponsor the Neighborhood Block Leader Program today, which was another successful outcome of the project.

Strategic Planning Projects

Community Workshop City of Cupertino Civic Center Master Plan

Posted on  by Jen Mair

PDC
September 2013 – October 2014.
PDC worked with Perkins + Will, an internationally renowned urban design firm, to help design and facilitate public engagement and outreach for the Civic Center Master Plan. Through this three phase, year long process, stakeholder groups and members of the Cupertino community provided ideas and feedback on concept design options that ultimately helped shape the preferred option that was developed and submitted for approval by the City Council. Engagement activities included community interviews, stakeholder meetings, community workshops, and online engagement.

City of Milpitas Strategic Planning Process

Posted on  by Jen Mair

June 2013 – Present.

The city of Milpitas has contracted PDC to assist with public outreach and community engagement as they formulate a strategic plan to better deliver future city services.  PDC is working with Milpitas in a four phase, year long process where city workers, city commission members, the chamber of commerce, the school district, faith-based organizations, community organizations, and residents will be asked to contribute input.

City of Half Moon Bay General Plan Update

Posted on  by Jen Mair

September 2013 – present.

PDC is working with Dyett & Bhatia, a well known urban and regional planning firm, to assist the City of Half Moon Bay in gathering community input to help inform updates to the General Plan.  This five phase, two-year project includes working with a community advisory committee, interviewing community members and groups, designing and facilitating community workshops and deliberative meetings, and coordinating an online engagement platform.

Land Use Planning Projects

City of San Carlos Transit Village

Posted on  by Jen Mair

The PDC worked with the City of San Carlos and three stakeholder groups to design and facilitate a series of meetings about a proposed, multi-use transit village in the City. In addition to the City, stakeholders included the developer (Legacy Partners), the public agency landowner (samTrans), and the members of a neighborhood association most effected by the project (Greater East Side San Carlos).

Town of Estancia Action Plan Meeting

Posted on  by Jen Mair

Under the auspices of the Planning Commission in Estancia, New Mexico, the PDC facilitated an action planning meeting to formulate visions and conduct action planning in the areas of land use and development, infrastructure, and public services.

Training and Capacity Building Projects

City of Thousand Oaks Visioning Program Preparation and Facilitation Training

Posted on  by Jen Mair

PDC
March 24th – April 4th, 2014
PDC developed and delivered a customized training package to help prepare the City of Thousand Oaks staff and City Council members to lead community engagement efforts throughout a six month Visioning Program. The training involved a facilitation workshop for City staff and select community leaders, as well as a series of meetings with City Council members and staff to prepare for facilitating community engagement committees. The City of Thousand Oaks is engaging the community in a 2064 Visioning Program through October 2014.

Community Connections: A Forum for Community Leaders

Posted on  by Jen Mair

Partnering with the Community Relations Office of Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington, the PDC designed and facilitated a conference for 40 leaders in the Tri-Cities area. In a three-day event, participants worked to develop visions for a better community and establish networks for action. PDC also held concurrent public-issues facilitation training to build capacity amongst the participants for their ongoing efforts in their communities. The event took place in June, 1998, and 1999 was deemed “The Year of the Child” as another outcome of this gathering. A follow-up conference was held the following year. As part of this project, local facilitators were trained in PDC methods and assisted in facilitating the two annual events.

Staff Retreats and Organizational Communication Projects

San José Retreat for Senior Staff

Posted on  by Jen Mair

PDC was invited to design and facilitate two half-day sessions at a retreat for Senior Staff. One session was on the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative, the other on expansion of San Jose International Airport. The overarching issue in both sessions was to help members of the various departments work together as a staff for the City rather than work in vertical “silos” in their own departments.

San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services

Posted on  by Jen Mair

The PDC assisted in the design and facilitation of three staff meetings with members of the project steering committee, and assisted in a fourth meeting held shortly after the third. The purpose was to engage participants in a dialogue on issues related to organizational review and service delivery. The design made use of the Concerns, Vision, Action model (CVA) with the aim of delivering successful parks and recreation services to the public.

 

Los Gatos Town Council, Planning Commission, and Staff Retreats

Posted on  by Jen Mair

The PDC worked with the Town of Los Gatos Planning Commission, Town Council, and Planning Department staff to help identify communication challenges and improve communication processes with the ultimate goal of improving the Town’s planning process. The project consisted of one-on-one interviews in advance of staff and council retreats, a half-day retreat with Town Council, and a day-long joint retreat with the Town Council, Planning Commission, and Planning Department staff.
Results included the generation of specific actions that the groups could take to improve communication, as well as a better understanding of each individual segment of the planning process and how each segment contributed to the overall process and outcomes. The event opened new lines communication beyond the more formal structures that were previously used. Following the retreats, the PDC was invited to help design a public meeting with Council Members and representatives from the Town Commissions and Boards.

 

Diversity and Conflict Management

Alternative Communication Skills for Conflict Resolution

Posted on  by Jen Mair

This live and interactive national video conference was sponsored and developed by the PDC and produced at De Anza College. On the program, colleagues from KCC International in London and PDC consultants explored the ways in which conflict is often managed, presenting ideas for better forms of communication in conflict situations. Special PDC methods were featured, including systemic questioning, reframing and empathic listening skills.

Kaleidoscope Sessions on Affirmative Action and Multi-Culturalism

Posted on  by Jen Mair

The PDC sponsored two events, one at De Anza College in California and one at the San José State University onCalifornia, on affirmative action and multi-culturalism in higher education. These events were organized as Kaleidoscope sessions, an approach that involves various dialogue formats, including small dialogue groups and reflecting teams.

Interfaith Peacebuilding Institute for Maluku Tengah, Indonesia

Posted on  by Jen Mair

Following a devastating four-year conflict between Christian and Muslim communities in Maluku, Indonesia, the Institute brought together forty erstwhile enemies—religious leaders from the Province of Central Maluku—to begin a dialogue about community restoration. In a remarkable five-day session, the participants created a common vision for reconciliation and community restoration on the basis of shared religious values, strength through difference, tradition, and dialogue. Co-sponsored by the PDC; an international NGO, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC); and the Institute for Social Transformation, a community-building agency based in Indonesia.

A Time to Talk: A Cupertino Community Forum

Posted on  by Jen Mair

A few years after the Cupertino Project ended, a highly visible controversy erupted between members of the City Council over the naming of a room in the new City library. This event prompted City Manager Dave Knapp to ask the PDC to design and facilitate a community forum to address issues of diversity and demographic changes.
The PDC held a one-day training for a diverse group of local residents who then facilitated small group discussions during a community forum. Results of the forum included greater understanding of diverse perspectives of community members, as well as increased capacity for the community to address issues of diversity.
See the article in The Cupertino Courier

Campus and Youth Dialogues

San Jose State University, San Francisco State University, Skyline College, Fielding University, Kansas State University

Posted on  by Jen Mair

The PDC is dedicated to training students in dialogue, deliberation, and facilitation skills in classes and workshops at various educational institutions where we work. Students who are trained in these skill sets then facilitate campus and community forums on a variety of issues including diversity appreciation, student success and college completion, environmental sustainability, food security, interfaith dialogues, and student engagement. Students also conduct community interviews, collecting input and data to inform various issues of importance to our communities. PDC provides internships to students to continue to develop our organizational capacity as well as the capacity of our communities for dialogue and deliberation on important topics. 

Gear Up Waco

Posted on  by Jen Mair

As part of a five-year program, the PDC partnered with Baylor University and other educational institutions in McClennon County, Texas, to identify middle school students at risk and begin to track them toward higher education. Part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Gear Up program, the PDC collaborated with other agencies in video projects; parent, student, and teacher dialogues; a parental leadership program; and community resource mobilization. The PDC also provided a pilot training program in conflict management for teachers at Brazos Middle School in Texas. The PDC also designed and facilitated a day-long conference for two Texas school distrcits entitled “Creating Parent-Student Communities of Hope and Imagination.”

Interfaith Peacebuilding Institute for Maluku Tengah, Indonesia

Posted on  by Jen Mair

Following a devastating four-year conflict between Christian and Muslim communities in Maluku, Indonesia, the Institute brought together forty erstwhile enemies—religious leaders from the Province of Central Maluku—to begin a dialogue about community restoration. In a remarkable five-day session, the participants created a common vision for reconciliation and community restoration on the basis of shared religious values, strength through difference, tradition, and dialogue. Co-sponsored by the PDC; an international NGO, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC); and the Institute for Social Transformation, a community-building agency based in Indonesia.

A Time to Talk: A Cupertino Community Forum

Posted on  by Jen Mair

A few years after the Cupertino Project ended, a highly visible controversy erupted between members of the City Council over the naming of a room in the new City library. This event prompted City Manager Dave Knapp to ask the PDC to design and facilitate a community forum to address issues of diversity and demographic changes.
The PDC held a one-day training for a diverse group of local residents who then facilitated small group discussions during a community forum. Results of the forum included greater understanding of diverse perspectives of community members, as well as increased capacity for the community to address issues of diversity.
See the article in The Cupertino Courier

CMM Institute