"We cannot solve our current problems with the same level of thinking that created them."
-Albert Einstein

The big challenges confronting our communities - safety and violence, youth development, drug and alcohol abuse, growth and economic development - have multiple roots. They cannot be resolved by one sector of the community alone. Joining Forces provides the productive forum necessary for resolving these complex problems that impact the whole community and therefore require a community-wide approach.

Joining Forces creates a community-wide summit or gathering that allows citizens representing all community sectors to explore pressing issues and common concerns. It helps them identify potential solutions, forge consensus around a plan, and mobilize to take effective action. In cities and towns all across America, these community summits have proven to be effective in addressing topics like:

• Preventing violence and crime
• Reducing gang activity, teen pregnancy, and suicide
• Creating a community rich in developmental assets
• Reducing substance use and abuse
• Planning for the future of children and youth

HOW IT WORKS

Joining Forces is tailored to meet your community's needs, and help you get where you want to go. Each community typically includes these three stages:

1 - ASSESSMENT
We can use a combination of telephone and personal interviews, site visits and survey instruments, to take the pulse of your community and provide a sharper focus for the summit. Together with you, we determine your community's strengths, concerns, needs, resources and potential obstacles. We look at its history - what's worked well and what hasn't - and the personalities involved. Depending on your needs and desired outcomes, the assessment may require several hours or several days.

2 - SUMMIT
With this increased understanding, we develop an interactive and results-driven community summit. We help you get the right people to participate -- usually a broad cross-section of youth and adults. We help you arrange logistics so the meeting flows smoothly. We help you prepare participants and other volunteers to be effective in their roles. We then facilitate an inspiring event, which can a few hours or days in length. The summit strengthens relationships, deepens understanding, sharpens skills, forges consensus, and mobilizes citizens to carry out an action plan that makes their vision a reality.

3 - IMPLEMENTATION
Upon completion of the summit we analyze its outcomes and assist with development of a summary report. . . . How many of us have participated in a process that stopped there? To help insure that the ideas of the summit become tangible changes in your community, we then provide technical assistance and coaching during the implementation of your action plan, which might include:

• critical skills training for community members who are leading and facilitating project teams or committees;
• vital links to other community building resources nationwide;
• expert assistance with evaluation and adjustment of your plan; and
• other support as needed.

WHY IT WORKS

Joining Forces provides the three ingredients necessary for any successful community change effort:

1. HOPE - Hope is the heart of a community. Joining Forces rekindles that sense of hope, forges a common vision, and inspires people to take action.
2. PLAN - Plans translate hopes into actions. Your community will develop a comprehensive plan that produces the results you desire. The plan will include strategies for mobilizing youth and adults, and for sustaining their commitment to implement specific projects, programs and activities.
3. TOOLS - Tools enable action to produce results. Joining Forces helps participants sharpen their interpersonal and organizational skills, which builds local capacity for undertaking community improvement initiatives. With coaching from experienced community builders, they practice and apply those skills to meet genuine community needs.

Sample Timeline

The following timeline is approximate, and should be adjusted to account for your community's circumstances and objectives.

8 Months Before Summit	Core team forms to explore feasibility, clarify vision identify and recruit steering committee
7 Months Before Summit	Steering committee assembles Training date established
6 Months Before Summit	Community Matters provides training and planning session for steering committee Subcommittees form to implement plan
0-6 Months Before Summit	Subcommittees: conduct public relations campaign secure sponsorship and participation identify and train discussion-group facilitators make all logistical arrangements Community Matters provides coaching and technical assistance to subcommittees
Summit Occurs	Community Matters provides on-site facilitation, working with youth and adult facilitators from the community Citizen Action Teams (CATs) form and develop preliminary action plans to address highest priority issues
After the Summit	Steering Committee completes evaluation and presents report to community links CATs with existing infrastructure and resources, and oversees next steps CATs continue research, development and implementation of plans Community Matters provides additional training, coaching and technical assistance for steering committee and/or CATs in areas of need, e.g. keys to successful youth-adult partnerships; increasing meeting effectiveness; sustaining community partnerships; managing, motivating and retaining volunteers

The Joining Forces summit is a like big tent, where every voice is heard, and every perspective welcomed.

Perhaps it can help your community strengthen relationships, do some creative problem solving, and get citizens actively involved, working within a supportive structure to make a positive impact in your communty.

Joining Forces: A big community meeting for big community results.