Approach

Community Learning Model

The Civic Canopy designs and facilitates public processes using a research-based Community Learning Model (CLM) that focuses on results, includes relevant and diverse stakeholders in thoughtful dialogue, and develops action plans and structures for learning from results—all within a culture of trust and collaboration. The CLM is a proven game-changer for achieving positive change in communities and puts high-quality process at the forefront of solving issues that affect the way society functions.

Results

Clear articulation of the results sought is at the center of the model. The desired results and the re-assessment of them drive the community learning process.

Include

Ensure the various people, perspectives and systems involved in the work are engaged in the process.

Dialogue

Create a high-quality conversation that clarifies values, surfaces tensions, and taps into creativity, leading to concrete plans that achieve results.

Act

Make sure the planning leads to action, both within planning processes and at each stage of implementation.

Learn

Set benchmarks and use indicators to assess the impact and quality of actions; learn from experiences and translate that information into more effective actions.

Culture of Collaboration

Strengthen the capacities that support collaborative work such as facilitative leadership, communication, information sharing and shared accountability.

Civic Network

One common challenge to effective collaboration is connecting partners together online in a way that is efficient, inexpensive, and easy to use. Created by The Civic Canopy, Civic Network is an open-source platform created to help communities achieve their goals. It provides a user-friendly place to connect, collaborate, and coordinate across efforts by sharing documents, tracking actions, managing projects, and connecting with a broader network of partners across Colorado.

It’s more than a software platform and more than a social network, it serves a higher civic purpose. It is a place where individual efforts come together to do good, better.