Become A Community Champion
Civic Spark is the Jeffco Community Network's newest offering. Join other enthusiastic Jeffco residents for a hands-on training that will equip you with the skills, knowledge, and connections to become an effective community champion for local issues. Whether you're passionate about housing, economic opportunity, neighborhood wellbeing, or anything else, this program is for you.
Hosted in partnership with Localworks, and with funding from Colorado Gives Foundation, this program is free for all participants.
Session Information
Through a “Game of Life,” an interactive activity created by Localworks, individuals will have an opportunity to explore different paths to civic engagement and advocacy – ultimately joining a team with other residents who will work together throughout the training program. Your time together will culminate in setting a large goal that you wish to achieve and setting measurable objectives your cohort of participants will assist one another with accountability.
A city manager from one of the Jeffco municipalities will lead this session to introduce participants to key functions of local government operations – including everything from road maintenance and parks and open space to economic development and homeless navigation.
There’s a distinct difference between championing local issues and assuming an advocacy position – and it’s important to know the difference. Participants will engage in a conversation to discover the key differentiators as it relates to civic engagement and why it matters – all under the context of learning the various local levers of impact.
Additionally, we’ll provide a worksheet that will help participants begin to think about their networks of neighbors and stakeholders. A key component to leading change in your community is having access to a network from which to gather insights from and call upon to participate in civic activities.
Elected officials want and need to hear from their constituents, but often people feel intimidated by how to build these important relationships. This session will feature a panel of local elected officials, who will share why they ran for office, their current policy priorities, and how they prefer to connect with the community.
No matter the issue, there are a few successful formulas for ensuring your message resonates with the intended audience – and it relies on a combination of research-backed messages, personal stories, and data. Participants will practice effective communication using the “me, we, why” and other frameworks.
With the support of each participant’s group, everyone will use a template to create a quick action plan that they’ll present at the end of this workshop. The goal is to create a plan that can be completed within the following month.
The final “session” is a social celebration that will allow participants to exchange experiences in a fun and informal setting.
