Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative

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Funded by the William Caspar Graustein Memorial
Funds Discovery Initiative
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Presents
Whats in it for them?
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• Self -Interest
• What is it?

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• We want to
• Build deeper community
• Bring about change
• Engage others in our efforts
• Understand others
• Make strategic alliances

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• HOW?

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• Building relationships.
• Conversations (asking questions and listening)
  will
• Build a relationship of trust with an individual.
• Help us understand others and walk in their
  shoes.
• 3. Reveal why they do what they do (intent,
  motivation, passion).
• 4. Help us connect them to the correct area of
  community and avenue of change that best matches
  their passion.

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Whats in it for you?
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Magic Wand Question
If you had a magic wand, what would you want to
see happen in your community?
Why is this important to you?
Who else do you think would be important in
making this happen?
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• Your vision or passion is WHO you are manifested
  in WHAT you do.
• Finding out WHY you do what you do will reveal
  that vision or passion.
• A good vision or passion will always be OTHERS
  minded.

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Dont be afraid!

• Most people love to talk about themselves.

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Self Interest PASSION

• It is found by building relationships.

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Media Whats in it for them?
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Gift Very Engaged Education Staff Writer for a
local newspaper Republican American
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Self-Interest

• The scoop

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Strengthening that gift

• Continue to meet and personally invite.
• Give important newly released public documents.

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CorporationsWhats in it for them?

• Gifts Public Giving

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Self-Interest

• Community Outreach - Mission

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Strengthening that Gift

• Develop meaningful relationships
• Find out what their area of donation is tailored
  to

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FOUNDATION. org
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Local State Officials Whats in it for them?

• Gifts Strong support from
• City Councilman Rick Dalla Valle
• Represtenative Anne Ruwet
• Represenative Roberta Willis
• Senator Roraback
• Super Intendents Designee Cheryl Klozcko

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Self Interest

• Information on Important Early Childhood
  Education Topics
• Access to Data collected by the collaborative
• Status Report on Torringtons Children
• Publicity - Votes

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Strengthening These Gifts

• Continue to create meaningful public engagement
  opportunities
• TECC Parents attend monthly City Council
  Meetings and can report in during the public
  portion
• Give information that is in line with their
  self-interest
• Thank them personally! Phone call/hand-written
  note

And . . .
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A picture tells a story and helps build
relationships
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Take Pictures
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• Gift Talented individuals with the
  desire to make change happen

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Parents Whats in it for them?

• Put yourself in the shoes of a parent, with
  children ages birth to 8, and always ask, What
  is in it for them?

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Self Interest - Passion

• Discovering a parents self interest or passion
  can help you identify what would be the best way
  for them to participate the most effectively.
• Alleviates burn out, drop out, and frustration.
• Relationships keep them engaged.

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Childcare

• More parents attend meetings
• Concerned about who is babysitting
• Concerned about where

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Relevancy of Meetings

• Know your audience (parents attending).
• Ask, Whats in it for them?
• Will they be asked their opinion, be able to
  voice their concerns, have time to talk with
  other adults?

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Jargon Keep Language Simple

• Explain acronyms
• Have introductions (who you are and what agency
  you are from) at meetings
• Create a safe environment for asking questions

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Priority on Classes

• When offering People Empowering People (PEP)
  classes or parenting classes (such as Conscious
  Discipline), offer it to collaborative parents
  first.
• Classes can be used to get parents involved in
  the collaborative or to keep parents engaged.

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Sustainability

• With a focus of birth to 8, parents will phase
  out.
• Parents need to see this and find a way to create
  sustainability or look at it as replacing
  themselves.
• Possibility is parents moving from being involved
  in playgroups to the PEP program and then to the
  Collaborative

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Product versus Process

• Teach the difference between product and process
  meetings.
• Dont be all talk no action, or all action not
  talk.
• Fit product driven parents in the right committee.

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Persistence

• Dont mistake lack of response or showing up to
  meetings as a no to involvement.
• Continue to send emails and make phone calls
  (unless otherwise expressed).

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Teach Parents New Things

• Use parent meetings to teach presentation skills,
  who does what in the community, and community
  news.
• Provide training through CT Parent Power for one
  on one interviews.
• Offer PEP (People Empowering People) and other
  classes.

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Recognize and Appreciate

• Send encouraging notes and emails.
• Recognize parents at celebration and presentation
  times.
• Verbally praise and validate ideas.
• Give simple gifts\tokens of appreciation for all
  their hard work