Today’s episode included the following speakers (in the order they appear):
Host: Luke Waldo
Experts:
:07-:39 – Bryan Samuels - Is the goal that you’re trying to get engagement? Or is the goal you’re trying to get ownership? And when you think about ownership, then you have to think about going the extra mile.
:42-3:24 - Luke Waldo – Opening, introduction to Bryan Samuels and the Systems Transformation Through Community Leadership report.
3:25-10:15 - Bryan – Disrupting System Mindsets
- When there are power imbalances, you often don’t get meaningful change.
- You also need to shift the mental models away from where systems and communities address negative issues and move to where positive things occur.
- Infrastructure and coordinated planning.
- Continuous Quality Improvement is also needed to check in to see if the process is working for everybody.
- Establishing a common language can build momentum towards change.
- Community needs to have agency as to how resources are used.
- Power-building may start with different levels of power, but it should aspire to share power and decision-making.
10:16-19:15 – Bryan – Investing in Communities
- Marginalization has occurred throughout history due to race and racism and income inequality.
- Investing in resources that will support those community partners who have been marginalized, so that they can participate. Childcare, food, compensation, as they likely worked a full day and are not being paid to participate like the professionals who are.
- Systems need to actively seek out participants to ensure that the community’s diversity is fully represented at the table. Using surveys, taking polls, engaging in different ways to ensure full representation.
- Take the time to build trust.
- Leverage people’s unique strengths.
- Pausing long enough to ensure that participants understand the systems that you are trying to transform.
- Recognition that people need to be compensated for the work that they are contributing.
19:16-28:47 - Bryan – Reimagine Community Engagement
- Engagement is more than a one-time commitment.
- Building relationships and ensuring that community residents understand what is being proposed and giving them the opportunity to set priorities.
- Creating a shared vision for the future.
- Community residents and community providers often have different power and experiences.
- Who does the community hold in high regard? Find them and bring them to the table.
28:48-39:18 - Bryan – Community Leadership
- Getting ownership means that the community sees the change as theirs.
- Are you trying to get engagement or ownership?
- Creating a decision-making and governance structure helps create ownership. A ladder of opportunity acknowledges that not everyone comes to the table with the same experience or knowledge, so this allows for growth that makes them more capable than when they arrived.
- Sometimes we rely too often on champions. You need to move beyond the people that will say the right thing and find the people that will defend the right thing.
- Sharing in the budgeting process. Systems leaders often know what the budget is, but the community itself doesn’t. Maybe we have fewer meetings, so that we can feed people who are attending.
- May need to pause throughout the process to leave the room and allow the community to be in the room with one another to determine if things are progressing towards ownership for them.
- Tenant housing example.
39:19-48:20 - Bryan – Embedding Community Leadership
- Creating a process and space that promotes long-term engagement for the community and ultimately ownership. Infrastructure promotes trust and engagement.
- CQI mechanism is important to check in and validate with the community that things are going well. If they aren’t, then you make changes.
- Create agreements that there will be open communication about what isn’t working.
- Regularity is important so that people know what to expect.
48:21-52:20 - Bryan – Use the podcast as inspiration to dive more deeply into the bulletins and build a strategy from both.
52:21-52:50 - Luke – This conversation has been both inspirational and instructive. Gratitude.
52:52-55:00 – Luke - 3 Key Takeaways
- Power Sharing is a Foundation for Equity
“When communities, systems leaders, and providers come together, they start from unequal footing. Moving toward equity at the table requires intentional planning to share power from the very beginning.” - Moving from Storytelling to Engagement
“Engagement isn’t a one-time checkbox; it’s a long-term relationship with a commitment to removing barriers. It’s not just about inviting people to the table—it’s about ensuring they have the time, resources, and support to stay there and contribute fully. Communities need time to process, prioritize, and incubate ideas, creating shared visions that reflect their lived experiences and expertise.” - Moving from Engagement to Ownership “Ownership happens when the community sees the strategy not as a system-led initiative but as a reflection of their values, their priorities, and their contributions. It’s a process that builds commitment and sustainability.” As system professionals, we can facilitate and empower that ownership by providing clear and predictable processes for those we serve. Through structure like regular meetings, transparent decision-making, and clear roles, we create a foundation for trust and meaningful participation.
55:05-56:53 - Closing Credits
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