Community Conversations
Like any affiliation, a relationship with your community takes an investment of personal interaction and a commitment to understanding values, beliefs, goals, and more. It takes a willingness to reach common ground. Community conversations can help your board reach a level of true engagement with community members. Using structured formats, you’ll bring people together to weigh pros and cons, discuss possible options, and provide input on the path they believe works best for your community. The tools here can help you understand and implement structured engagement processes in your community.
Community Conversations Toolbox
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National Connection is brought to you by your state school boards association in partnership with NSBA.
Community Conversations Toolbox
Community Conversations Tipsheet
There isn’t just one perfect way to meaningfully engage your stakeholders. “Engagement”
goes by many names – study circles, table-top discussions, and dialogue sessions. You can
format these kinds of initiatives in many ways – from highly formal and structured to casual
and flexible.
Sample Letter for Community Conversations
Customize this sample invitation letter for a Community Conversation to fit your district’s circumstances.
Sample Letter to Build Community Dialogue
Customize this sample letter to build coalition for Community Dialogue to fit your district’s circumstances.