The Center will plan and convene public deliberation on issues of critical importance to the region and its communities.

The Center will also work with regional and community leaders to identify important issues that could benefit receiving effective public involvement. It will maintain a neutral position with regard to all issues.

For instance, the ODU Annual State of Region Report provides data and analyses for critical subjects (affordable housing, sand replenishment, economic impact of the port). The Planning Council publishes its annual Social Indicators Report. The material is rich and ripe for regional dialogue. It would be a logical method to increase the public’s awareness of their community and generated discussions that lead to the formulation of action plans.

The Center advises, assists and encourages organizations in the use of effective, cutting edge public involvement methods suitable to their needs.

The Center will help clients to develop a capacity for local advisement on strategies and methods of public involvement for public or private entities that may not have this expertise within their organization. It will assist in the design and/or management of methods tailored for and appropriate to the scale of public involvement required for the consideration of selected policies or projects that impact the public.

The Center will identify, evaluate, collect and make accessible data and research about the current state of civic engagement in Hampton Roads, the process of public involvement, and about specific topics of interest to the region.

Citizen engagement is evolving worldwide through emerging technologies and the development of new deliberation skills. The Center is a core center for residents in Hampton Roads to conveniently connect with each other and with other regional, national and global agencies and associations that have demonstrated expertise in public involvement.

The Center is conducting classes in public involvement, civic learning and citizenship skills throughout the region.

No one owns “public involvement” or civic engagement. The region profits when more and more individuals, civic organizations, cognizant interest groups governments and businesses understand how to engage citizens in their decision-making. Regular and ongoing involvement among citizens, stakeholders and community leaders can transform underutilized resources into problem-solvers and increase the potential for forward progress on contentious and troublesome issues.