The following list covers the things that you need to plan for as a coalition. Some tasks can be handled by one or two individuals; others require a team effort.
If your coalition is small, you may need to reach out to other community members for help. Try to have people work in diverse groups, and include young people wherever possible.
Even though some activities happen later in the process, develop a timeline and establish teams so you can dedicate ample time to planning.
Main program components you’ll need to coordinate as a group:
Coordinating the effort:
Most programs identify someone (paid or volunteer) to serve as a coordinator. Think of this person as the “glue” that maintains the pace and flow of multiple volunteers working together, not the person who does all the work!
Communications:
Establish a team of people to develop messages, stir up public interest, encourage people to participate, and tell the story as it unfolds. You may want to seek out a local PR firm that may be willing to do some pro-bono work. Another option is to recruit students majoring in communications at area colleges who may be interested in either an internship or in doing community service work.
Creating discussion materials:
If you do not use or adapt one of the discussion guides created by Everyday Democracy, you will need a dedicated guide-writing team to prepare discussion materials for the dialogues.
Participant recruitment:
Everybody can (and should!) participate in recruitment, but you’ll need a formal committee to set goals and coordinate the recruiting effort.
Facilitation:
Well-trained, skillful, facilitators are at the heart of successful dialogue. Establish a committee to recruit, train, and support facilitators.
Evaluation:
Documenting your progress will help you tell your story, recruit more people and organizations to join the effort, and secure more funding. You need to think about evaluation in the beginning of the effort so you can document changes that happen throughout the process.
Funding:
There are many moving pieces to the program that will require the use of grant money or in-kind donations. You may want to look for resources for things ranging from hiring coordinators to entertainment for kick-off events to printing discussion materials.
You may be able to work with a grad student at a local college to help you evaluate the program. A good evaluator can help you set benchmarks, measure your progress, and fine-tune your strategies to meet your goals.
Kickoff:
The kickoff is your first chance to capture public attention and can be a great recruitment event. It can be a festive public gathering, a potluck supper, or a brief announcement by the mayor. Members of this committee should know what will appeal most in your community, and they should know how to organize public events (large or small).
Action forum:
At the end of the dialogues, participants come together to prioritize actions and form working groups. You’ll need to establish a team of people to plan the event. You may be able to tap into some of the same resources you used in the kick-off.
Action team oversight:
Once the action teams form, selecting co-chairs and establishing an oversight group will help ensure their success.
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