We mentioned last month that two anchoring elements of DRIVE’s work are Measurement and Evaluation and Racial Equity. The third anchoring component is Community Engagement. Fresno has a deep history of community engagement work that has been implemented in our neighborhoods through other efforts; traditional community organizing, asset-based community development, and resident power-building to name just a few. Each approach has great aspects in how they are lived out.
DRIVE was introduced to Transformative Community Engagement (TCE) in 2020 and our team has added this methodology to the aforementioned strategies as we continue to build upon the way we elevate resident voice in our community. TCE looks at the various approaches an organization or institution has as it engages with youth and families. As you’ll see in the chart below, there’s a progression from MARGINALIZATION to COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP.
Within DRIVE, we desire to land on the right hand side of this chart in the “collaborate” and “defer to” columns . It’s our goal that genuine power is built within our residents and youth so that their voice speaks into the myriad decisions that are made in our community. We currently have Neighborhood Hubs building resident leaders in 11 neighborhoods. Partner organizations are engaging businesses and residents along the Blackstone and Cesar Chavez corridors. We’re building upon the great work happening in Downtown Fresno through more community building efforts. We intend to continue to refine and fully build out a more robust city-wide community engagement strategy.
This is where Purpose-Built Community Engagement comes into place. We are developing strategies for each of DRIVE’s 14 initiatives that link with the Facing Fresno workshops. The strategies also connect with other place-based efforts we plan on implementing in the months ahead. There will be a “purpose” for each element for engagement, all leading to the movement we wish to create.
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