Customer Connection Experience with Community Summits

Twice we have facilitated community summits in the aftermath of devastating hurricane seasons in the United States.  In each of these summits, Coray Gurnitz guided the process that brought together over 100 stakeholders.  In both cases, the summits involved Federal, State and Local representatives such as city mayors, county officials, and senior state officials.  In the other, the summit also included industry representatives.

Case 1:  The stakeholders shared a common goal – to increase the nation’s capability at all levels to prepare for and respond to life-threatening disasters. 

Using the approaches of “Appreciative Inquiry” and “Open Space Technology,” the summit was designed to help stakeholders focus on what is possible relative to emergency planning, response and recovery and design the components of an ideal system and process.  Using an “Open Space Technology” methodology, participants in the sessions were able to work on those elements of the system for which they had the most interest, passion or concern—thereby enabling stakeholders to have a more personal investment and commitment to the outcomes. 

Using these approaches, we organized and conducted panel discussions and listening sessions on a variety of topics related to emergency management and preparedness.  We facilitated a combination of large and small group sessions to collect data from stakeholders on how well current processes are working and to gather recommendations for improvement. 

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