By Pepper Parr
October 16th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Take the Jim Diers visit to Burlington later this month and the Food for Feedback Digital Government award the City was given – tie them together then add in the departure of the Communications Director who is no longer with the City and you get a look at how Burlington works at engagement.
Jim Diers
The Food for Feedback event – there have been three of them so far -proved to be useful – at least in terms of getting people out to an event and enjoying a snack (city keep calling it a meal) for talking to city hall staff who were at stations spread around the space in front of the bandstand next to the New Street library.
There were representatives from 30 different city projects. What we don’t yet know is: what did the city learn – no data to date.
The former Director of Communications and Engagement, was the person who had to take council through how the event that took place in September would work. Council wasn’t convinced that Central Park was the best place to hold the event – most of them were quite keen on holding the event in their wards.
Granicus Digital Government Award was given to Burlington the Food for Feedback event it holds. The City won first place in the ‘Changemaker – Community Engagement Award’ category for demonstrating a commitment to finding innovative ways to engage and support the local community.
Staying with the efforts to improve upon the level of engagement with the community leads to an introduction to Jim Diers who will be in Burlington to do a presentation on October 24th at the Seniors Centre between 6 and 8 pm
Diers is the man who did some incredible work in Seattle and is known is as the guy who threw a live chicken into the office of the Mayor – my kind of guy.
Denise Beard
Burlington first got to know Diers when he was invited to talk to what was then the Parks and Recreation department. I am pretty sure that Denise Beard, Senior Manager, Community Development was behind that initiative.
Beard really wants to nurture “community champions” who can turn a neighbourhood into a truly connected community; she adds that Burlington has many passionate people who care. We’re always looking for those who are ready and prepared to take action to make their neighbourhood into something special for everyone.”
These four lads knew that the ball park beside their school needed an upgrade – the put together a plan and earned a Matching Grant from the city.
Diers was perhaps a little too strong and over the top for Burlington but he does get credit for nudging Recreation and Culture – we now have the Love My Neighbourhood Program, Community Rink Program and Community Matching Fund Program.
The City of Burlington is inviting residents to attend a presentation on Oct. 24, 2023, from Jim Diers and become inspired to develop a grassroots neighbourhood strategy to build stronger communities. The event will be held at the Burlington Seniors’ Centre (2285 New St.) from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free. Registration is not needed.
This event launched in 2019 and attendance was just over 1000 people. In 2019, the event was opened up to the Mayor and Council for their participation as well. In 2022 there was a total of 634 people who participated. In 2023, that total increased to 2000.
Jim Diers is a renowned and internationally acclaimed expert on building engaged, connected and caring communities. This is Jim’s third visit to the City.
The Diers’ presentation will be about Neighbour Power; something that not only gives hope that participatory democracy (where individuals participate directly in political decisions and policies rather than through an elected official) is possible. He will offer real-life examples and invaluable lessons for neighbours who want to make a difference.
The idea that “individuals will participate directly in political decisions and policies rather than through an elected official” would stun the many people who have delegated at City Council and got nothing in the way of response or follow up.
That just isn’t the way your city hall works
Jim Diers is credited for creating a direct-action neighbourhood association, a community development corporation, a community foundation, and the nation’s largest health care cooperative. He was appointed the first director of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods in 1988 where he served under three mayors over a period of next 14 years.
I would love to be a fly on the wall to listen in on the conversation Diers could have with City Manager Tim Commisso, who might tell Diers about his suggestion that there be a “zip line” in every community.
Currently, Jim teaches courses in community organizing and development at the University of Washington and serves on the faculty of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute.
Jim received a BA and an honorary doctorate from Grinnell College. His work in the Department of Neighborhoods was recognized with an Innovations Award from the Kennedy School of Government.
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