Building Community Through Change | Portland Civic Design Fest 2017

Project Champion: Lisa Whited

What is your project about?

It is about thinking of ways that are more inclusive regarding sharing information and gathering public input on growth, change and projects in Portland.

What do you have so far?

I have 19 months experience serving as a volunteer on the Portland Planning Board, more than 20 years experience with change management, and more than 30 years experience as an interior architect. I serve as a volunteer for Portland Empowered, connecting our immigrants and people of color more directly with Portland high schools. I have an open mind and a belief in the “art of possibility.” Two of my favorite books are: Community: The Structure of Belonging (by Peter Block) and Switch: How To Change Things When Change Is Hard (by Chip and Dan Heath).

What do you need?

I need people to work with me — I would like to have some of the city’s most ardent critics attend — the people who are very vocal about things not working well and who are frustrated by the process. I would also like a range of ages — people in their late teens to early 20s, people in their 30’s and 40’s. The average age of who shows up to the planning board meeting are people with white hair — in their 60’s, 70’s and beyond. I also would like more ethnic diversity — 99% of the people who attend planning board meetings are white. Yet, Portland is composed of a much more diverse population. I would like open-minded people to participate — and people who have experience with a healthy public input process that they have experienced in other parts of the country and world.

Don’t forget to RSVP to Portland Civic Design Fest, September 23rd at Mechanics Hall, Portland, Maine. Part of the National Day of Civic Hacking!

Hosted by Code for Maine, Portland Global Shapers, and Maine Charitable Mechanics Association. Sponsored by Ad Hoc, Workplace Transformation Facilitation, Seth Rigoletti: Leadership Coach, Project Login, and IDEXX.