Students in my Civic Innovation & Community Engagement course talk about a worthy class assignment

One critical aspect of the Master's Degree in Public Administration experience is tackling the real challenges of community engagement in government decision making.  Many of our graduate students are professionals working in a variety of public service positions.  For the majority of students, they view the idea of participation in public policy decision making from their lens as a professional.  In my Civic Innovation and Effective Governance course, I challenge them to take on the role of a community member and attend some type of public meeting.  The objective is for these professionals to see and experience participation from a different vantage point.

In their own words, they reflect on their experiences:

"Since moving to Framingham about a year and a half ago, this was the first time I had attended a public meeting regarding municipal services.  The process gave me a positive feeling about the way citizens are able to participate in local government.  The process was open and transparent, and the citizens who attended the meeting were engaged and able to offer their input.  I would like to become more involved in local politics and policy, and will plan to attend public meetings having to do with other topics, and I am also interested in running for Town Meeting."

"I attended the weekly community meeting that is held at City Hall in Boston, and the end result I consider myself to be very fortunate to have had the experience. Not only did I get to see the Ianella chambers, the very place where important issues in Boston are resolved, for the first time, but I was also brought up to speed on some important developments that are taking place in Boston as I am writing this paper."

"Residents who attended seemed fully engaged and invested in their community.  I think it was a perfect example of how to do things right in municipal government.  I also thought it was a very eye opening experience to be in the audience for once. To watch the facial expressions of the residents and hear how they responded to the town's ideas."

"For my meeting I went to the North End/Waterfront Residents' Association meeting. The organization is one of many such groups across the city that are considered advisory groups for the city to gauge residents views on local zoning, licensing and other neighborhood issues or concerns. The meeting was interesting and at the end of the night I signed up to be a member.  I've lived in the North End for five years, and worked in the area for eight years.  At first it was unappealing, with all the trash and restaurants and tourists. But after living here for so long, I've come to like it and I have a desire to get more involved to help the North End keep its appeal for future generations."

"The Subcommittee on Student Loan and Debt (chaired by Senator Eileen Donoghue) held a Student Listening Tour at Suffolk on October 21st, to receive critical input from students, administrators and education leaders. On a whim, I had signed in and indicated that I would speak. I nervously shared that I was making a mid-career change by pursuing a Master's in Public Administration.  I shared the anxiety of paying my loans while funding my daughter's education.  I believed that I was not alone in this situation and encouraged the subcommittee to not only consider the plight of undergraduate students but also the graduate students."