Community Dialogues

Alexandrians have participated in three Community Dialogues to collaborate on improving the City's public participation process, including development of principles of engagement and developing a framework for the planning process. All materials from the Community Dialogues are posted below.

4th Community Dialogue June 24, 2013

Join us for the 4th What's Next Alexandria Community Dialogue on Monday, June 24th! Participants will review the draft Handbook for Civic Engagement and work with fellow community members to further the engagement process by mapping an outreach network for the community and city to use in future endeavors.

Check back for updated information on this dialogue.

3rd Community Dialogue April 30, 2013

More than 130 community members participated in What's Next Alexandria's 3rd Community Dialogue on April 30th at First Baptist Church. The community finalized the principles of civic engagement and discussed concrete steps for achieving the principles.

• Meeting Agenda
• Presentation
• Virtual Table
• Photo of Map - Where do you live/work in Alexandria?

Table Exercises:

• Photos of Individual Activity Worksheets
• Photos of Group Activity Worksheets
• Compiled feedback from Individual Activity_Verbatim
• Compiled feedback from Group Activity_Verbatim
• Summary of Individual Activity Responses
• Summary of Group Activity Responses

Meeting Evaluations:

• Summary of Meeting Evaluations
• Compiled Meeting Evaluations_Verbatim
• Photos of Completed Meeting Evaluation Sheets

2nd Community Dialogue January 29, 2013

Approximately 120 Alexandrians participated in the second Community Dialogue on January 29th to refine principles of engagement and begin work to develop a framework for the planning process. 

• Agenda
• Video webcast and chat  
• Presentation
• Virtual Table

• Photo of Map - Where do you live/work in Alexandria?

Table Exercises:

• Compiled feedback from  Principle Statements Exercise
• Compiled feedback from Framework Exercise
• Photos of Worksheets - Principle Statements Exercise (Note: This is a large file and may take some time to load.)
• Photos of Worksheets - Framework Exercise (Note: This is a large file and may take some time to load.)

Meeting Evaluations:

• Summary of Meeting Evaluations
• Scanned Meeting Evaluations (original forms as completed by attendees)
• Compiled Meeting Evaluations (verbatim responses grouped by question)

1st Community Dialogue November 15, 2012

Approximately 165 Alexandrians participated in a Community Dialogue on November 15. That night, after hearing results of the community poll and remarks by Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, founder and former President of AmericaSpeaks and Executive Director of the of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, attendees worked together on principles of engagement.

• Meeting Agenda
• Presentation of Community Poll Results and the What's Next Process
• Presentation by Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer
• Video Webcast
   
• Photo of Map - Where do you live and work in Alexandria?

Each table answered the following questions, individually and as a group:

1. What does ideal engagement feel like?
2. What is expected of you as an engaged citizen?
3. What do you expect in return for your effort?

Group Work on the Principles of Engagement

• Compiled feedback from the work sheets
• Photos of the work sheets created at each table

Meeting Evaluations

• Compiled evaluations (verbatim responses grouped by question)

• Scanned evaluation forms (original forms as completed by attendees)                                                     

For more information, contact Carrie Beach at 703.746.3853 or send an email to whatsnext@alexandriava.gov.