Question

Jill was an intern working in a community development agency located in an urban downtown area that was seeing considerable change. Several developers were buying real estate in the region with hopes of attracting young professionals who wanted to be close to the shore and NYC. Jill's supervisor was new and had strong ties to a new and upcoming gentrification movement.

At the same time, on the west side of the city there was a rapid influx of Central American immigrants. Tensions were growing among the various stakeholders and Jill's supervisor asked her to network within the Latino community to find key leaders who might work on an advisory board to help improve relationships and cooperation. Jill worked in the Latino community in a high school tutoring program, but as a new intern, she didn't have any real connections in the Latino or blue collar communities there.

Jill was very interested in expanding her professional network so this could help her with future jobs in community development.

1. Describe the steps Jill should take to organize the community advisory group. Be specific and think carefully about who she will need, how she will connect with them, and how she will engage them in this project if they feel disenfranchised.
2. How will she use the high visibility that this project offers to promote herself without looking self-serving?

Answer 1

The steps which Jill must follow to come up with a community advisory group:

· The objective of the formation of the community advisory group must be very clear. This will help in identifying the primary stakeholders.

· Mission and vision of the group must be laid down and SMART goals must be identified. This helps in attracting members to the group

· Once identified, a group meeting of the stakeholders must be conducted to have a clear understanding of their stance and perspective

· A Board must be set up for the group. This board will have representation from every diversity involved so as to facilitate a comprehensive discussion of the group

· The meeting schedule of the group must be laid down after discussion with the Board

· A charter must be developed to lay down the responsibilities and operations of the group

· Every member must have a defined role in the group

· There must be high involvement of group members. Decision making must be done after taking viewpoint of every member into consideration. This will ensure that the members are engaged in the group

Jill is getting high visibility in this project. She needs to work on her networking skills and maintain a rapport or cordial relationship with all members of the group. She can include details about this community advisory group in her resume as she was the primary organizer of the same. She can ask members of the group to refer her in different organizations or give recommendation letters promoting her skills. This way, Jill can promote herself and grab better opportunities.