This document outlines an event to train community organizers on setting up online neighborhood forums. It discusses E-Democracy.org's mission to support civic engagement using online tools. The agenda includes introductions, learning about existing neighborhood forums, developing outreach strategies, and further training. Setting up online forums can help neighbors share information, discuss issues, and take collective action to strengthen communities. However, successful forums require inclusive outreach to reflect the full diversity of the neighborhood. The presentation provides case studies of forums that conducted intensive outreach campaigns, hiring local liaisons to recruit over 3,000 new members door-to-door and at community events.

1. Connecting Neighbors, Building
Communities, and Raising Voices since 1994

3. 
Welcome and Opening Stories

Introductions

Neighbours Forums In-depth

Tea Break

Outreach Strategy Groups and Report Back

Further In-Depth Lessons

Pub

8.  E-Democracy.org's mission:
 Harness the power of online tools to support
participation in public life, strengthen
communities, and build democracy.
 Creating online spaces for civic
engagement since 1994.

9. 
Someone
needed
help.

The
Wheel of
Cheese

Read more – on
Powderhorn
Neighbors
Forum – Photo CC
jojomelons via Flickr

10. 
Standish and Ericsson Neighborhood, Minneapolis
 About 10,000 residents - Small homes, big hearts
 Shared online “Neighbors Forum” for 5 years
 1200 members, ~30% households

“All politics is local.”
– Tip O’Neill, former US House Speaker

11. Imagine a shared email box for
your neighborhood:
neighbors@inyourarea.org
(On the web too.)

12.  “Local” online public places to:
 share information, events, ideas
 discuss local community issues
 gather diverse people in an open place
 take action and promote solutions
 Powered by two-way group communication
 Over 50 neighbors/community forums in 18 communities
across 3 countries today

13. Neighbor #1
City Hall
Your
Networks
N
E
I
G
H
B
O
R
S
Join the
Forum
In-person
Conversations
Neighbors
Forum
Online
Local Media
Coverage
Local Biz
Shared on
Facebook

15. 
Social connections, family-friendly
Safety and crime prevention
Mutual benefit , sharing stuff
Greater voices and civic engagement
Social capital generator
Openness and inclusion (if done right)
= Stronger communities

Resources: Block Activities, Block Connectors,






Locals Online, Soul of the Community

17. 
Name

Place

Community activities or organisations

Top question as we start?

18. 
What makes it special?

Name some key connecting places.

FYI - Join start-up Neighbours Forum:
 http://e-democracy.org/norbiton

20. 



E-mail
Web
Facebook
Twitter

22.  Via the web:
 e-democracy.org
 Or beneighbors.org
▪ Directory starting in Twin Cities
▪ Join via Facebook Option Available

23.  Via simple paper sign-up sheets

Sign up at local events, by neighbors, or
when doorknocked.

24. Neighbor #1
City Hall
Your
Networks
N
E
I
G
H
B
O
R
S
Join the
Forum
In-person
Conversations
Neighbors
Forum
Online
Local Media
Coverage
Local Biz
Shared on
Facebook

25. 
Public (vs. private groups)

Open access (vs. invite only)

Publicly searchable archive

Local scope

Encourage strong civility

Must use real names, accountability
(vs. member only access)

27. 
1. Helping

6. Influencing

2. Sharing

7. Engaging

3. Questions

8. Deliberation and
Decisions

4. Informing and
Outreach

9. Funding and Spending
5. Safety and Recovery

10. Starting and Solving


29. 
… with example links tied to each of the ten
themes are available here. It includes links to
example discussions.

This slide added post-event.

39. 
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Crime Prevention
Disaster Preparedness and
Community Recovery
Emergency Preparedness and
Response
Neighborly Mutual Benefit and
Support
Health Care and Long-term Care
Energy Efficiency
Environmental Sustainability
Senior Care and Intergenerational Connections
Small Business Promotion
Transportation

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





Local Food
Diverse Community Cohesion
Education and Community
Service
Recent Immigrant and Refugee
Integration and Support
Sustainable Broadband
Adoption
Rural Community Building
Youth Employment and
Experience
Community Building, Civic
Engagement, and Social Capital
Details on the E-Democracy Blog

42. 
Digital inclusion for community engagement leverages
other key efforts
Engagement
Digital Literacy
Online and Computer Skills
Technology and Broadband Access

43. 
88% use Email overall - 58% Typical day

67% use SNS (2012) -

67% visit local/st/fed gov web - 13% Typ day

Lesson - Reach people where they are online
48% day , 8% Twitter

44. 27% of adult Net users (22% overall) use
“digital tools to talk to their
neighbors and keep informed
about community issues.”
 74% of those who talk digitally with their neighbors have talked
face-to-face about community issues with their neighbors
compared to 46% overall

Source: Neighbors Online study from PewInternet.org, 2010

45. 
Neighborhood E-Lists/Forums – 7% Overall

Of 22% of ALL adults who “talk digitally with
neighbors”: Only 12% under 30K, Over 75K 39%

Source: Neighbors Online study from PewInternet.org, 2010

46. 
Neighborhood E-Lists/Forums – 7% Overall

Our view/experience – newer Net-using immigrants similar to
Latino inclusion rate

Source: Neighbors Online study from PewInternet.org, 2010

47. 



Those who already show up offline, showing
up online.
Lots of people talk politics offline, but more
polarized online
Participation gap even worse with fewer
lower income, minorities doing “civic
communication” or taking action online
Clift analysis and links to Pew’s 2013 “Civic Engagement in
the Digital Age Report”: http://bit.ly/pewcivic

49. 
… for links to extensive “numbers” providing
a back drop to why inclusive outreach is
absolutely necessary:
 http://bit.ly/pewcivic
 http://e-democracy.org/newvoices
 http://bit.ly/digicivic

This slide added post-event.

51. 
Define local purpose –
one to two sentences
sets tone, expectations

Open with friendly
round of introductions
at 50-100 members

Recruit, recruit, recruit


Multi-tech access –
bridge email, web
divide with Facebook
and Twitter access
Volunteer local Forum
Manager, train/support
them

Real names, no name
calling/personal
attacks, facilitation
with rules enforced

More:
http://e-democracy.org/if

53. 
Name 2+ Community or Cultural
Organisations to invite

Name any “community hub” people

What community and cultural events can
we table at? Places to hang flyers.

Group: Report back
Ethnic and cultural connectors and liaisons


57. 
Base Goal: 10% of Households, Reaching ~25%
or more in strongest areas of S. Minneapolis.

58. 
Grassroots community organizing techniques
to reach diversity of neighbors

Intensive campaigns with outreach team
(mostly summer 2012, 2013)

Hired 9 multi-lingual outreach team members
working up to 15 hours a week in 2012,
smaller group in 2013

59. 1. Research and set goals
2. Intensive recruitment and training
3. Utilized open access tools to manage
logistics increasing mobility and capacity of
team (GDocs, Dropbox, etc.)
4. Major on the ground outreach!
5. Remembering to think long term about
empowerment and voice
59

60. 
46% People
of Color

17% Foreign
Born

Lower
income
areas,
renters, etc.

61. 
Seward is 55%
white, 33%
black (mostly
East African)
 Pop 7,308

Cedar Riv is
45% black
(EA), 37%
white, 11%
Asian
 Pop 8,094

62. 62

63. 63

66. 66

67. 67

73. 
~3,000 memberships in-person in 2012, 800 online

129 Tracked Summer Outreach Events:
 917 via door-knocking in 20 targeted areas
 692 via 39 different community events
 340 via 28 community locations (libraries, etc.)
 182 via 10 National Night Out sites
 89 via 4 ethnic soccer matches
 76 via 12 community members

After ~12% error rate in e-mail addresses, opt-outs

74. 266% increase in St. Paul (blue)
memberships in 2012
 Mpls (red) all volunteer “organic”
word of mouth growth


75.  Build volunteer capacity
 “Forum engagement” - goal:
Forums that better reflect the diversity of
neighbors in the “virtual room.”
 Share lessons across many communities in
2014: http://e-democracy.org/learn
 Launch “New Voices” campaign for civic tech
and open gov movement: http://e-democracy.org/nv
75

76. Public outreach
 http://beneighbors.org
Webinars, training:
 http://e-democracy.org/learn
 http://e-democracy.org/practice

77. 
More pictures in
our slide show.
77

78. 
… on St. Paul’s case study are available from
our project information page and our lesson
sharing section. It includes links to example
discussions.

This short YouTube video highlights year one
outreach.

This slide added post-event.

80. 
We’d love to connect with you more!

Steven Clift - clift@e-democracy.org

Corrine.bruning@e-democracy.org
 612-229-4471


On Twitter @edemo
More: e-democracy.org/contact
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