How can you use community consultation to identify social problems?

With over a decade of experience in community organizing, directly impacted communities (people) have the solutions to the challenges impacting them. I have seen time and time again where policy wonks and "advocates" miss the mark because they don't understand the nuances of a social problem and often times offer short sided solutions. Take the following steps to avoid this mistake: (1) Ensure community consultation happens before any plans are set so that you can understand how those directly impacted experience the challenge. (2) Ensure that there is a schedule of regular community check ins/consultations throughout your campaign, efforts, or advocacy. (3) Establish a structure that supports community consultation and prioritizes input.

Communities are the experts in the issues that impact their lives. No degree will provide you with the level of intimate and precise detail that lived experiences will. For example, in working to identify and address mass surveillance in the #StopWatchingNola campaign, we found that New Orleans residents were much more adept at locating cameras in their neighborhoods and identifying instances in which the City's surveillance footage was being misused against community members. Centering the voices of the most impacted individuals adds both authenticity and nuance. It also builds collective power to make meaningful changes and address the root causes that most shape people's everyday lives.

It may sounds like a cliche, but communication is key. Listening to concerns, and understanding the issues people face. In addition to building trust, by actively involving the community, you gain firsthand perspectives, and uncover hidden problems which can foster collaboration on areas for improvement or intervention.

By consulting your community, you validate their observations and encourage ownership as change agents in solutions. Consultation is also not to be considered a one and done activity. Best practice suggests that setting up a framework for consultation at regular interval, benefits all stakeholders by creating that dynamic to recognize growth in some stakeholders or a shift to new stakeholder influence as the environment changes.

Decision makers and even non profits/NGO's often assume they know the issue or problem - often from data collection efforts. So, I'd start more broadly with open discussions w/community on issues impacting community disorganization and conversely community cohesion - from community members in varying venues. I'd also look internally at how our questions are developed; who develops them; and do our assumptions align with what we're hearing; and can directly impacted community members be compensated and integrated in identifying the problem, long before we get to 'solutions'. If we're serious about solving problems, we have to be just as serious in decentering our selves as decision-makers and work alongside and at times behind community.

While it can be frustrating, it is important to spend adequate time for understanding the problem that requires solutions. Avoid the emotional and mob mentality dimension. Be thorough and discuss why problem persists. Is it because solutions are pallatives and are not addressing root causes?

I find that including a diverse population in planning ensures that all needs are met. People from different backgrounds, whether it be race, disability, language, ethnicity, etc. needs varies. Including at least one from each group will broaden the scope and enlighten decision making.

In my experience in planning for consultation, there are many other structures and development agencies in communities, so in planning one have to consider the contribution of others to avoid duplication of effort. There should be a clear road map and the scope of work, mobilize the relevant stakeholders, resources, and identify focal people in the community

In 28 years of community organizing and education, the absolute best "tool" we utilized was a practice called "The Art of Hosting" aka "Harvesting Conversations that Matter", a type of participatory leadership. Canadian contacts include Chris Corrigan, Caitlin Frost and Pawa Haiyupis.

Once problems have been identified, community consultation can also play a role in finding solutions. Community members can provide valuable insights into what solutions might work best, based on their intimate knowledge of the community’s needs and resources.

Communities are diverse, and different groups within the community may face unique challenges. Consultation allows you to hear from a wide range of voices and perspectives, helping to identify issues that may not be immediately obvious.

When community members are involved in the process of identifying problems, they are more likely to trust the results and support the solutions. This can lead to greater community buy-in and more effective implementation of solutions.

Not all problems can be addressed at once. Community consultation can help identify which issues are most pressing or widespread, allowing for more effective allocation of resources.

Effective community consultation is a participatory process that underpins genuine community development. It enables communities to articulate their own concerns, and identify the appropriate responses and solutions to problems that affect them.

If you want to understand what's happening in any community, talk to the community's people. It's their story to tell since they see the social problems daily & know what they need. When considering the benefits of a community project or program, engage first in a feasibility study to determine if the community's people feel it will benefit them. You do not want to waste time & resources bringing something to the community they will not use, or they think will not help solve their community issues. Give the community credit that they can name the best solution for the problem. Community consultation is not about telling the community what they need; it's about seeking their opinion & advice on what would best support their thriving.

Effective community consultation requires open communication, respect for diverse voices, and a commitment to action based on the results of the consultation. It’s not just about identifying problems - it’s about working together to solve them.

Social set up of the community. It's key to understand the sociological set up of that particular community before engagement, understanding cultural set up, beliefs that define that community opens way for an open discussion and better understanding of the problems faced