Building Blocks to the Future

Intergenerational appreciative inquiry proved very inspiring and motivating. Adult commitments were refreshed. Hope came alive. New possibilities for engagement were imagined and shared. Asking positive open-ended questions was successful in establishing a lively sense of shared civic identity, creating effective methods for constructive intergenerational dialogue, and expanding the sense among the young people that they could make a difference. But the dialogue only took the first step – of understanding what was possible, and imagining where that could lead in the future. There was no structure within which to create that future. Imagine Chicago learned that the appreciative intergenerational interview process would be much more effective if it happened within structures that could move more readily to action, around ideas for which individuals could take personal responsibility.

Imagine Chicago has designed its subsequent initiatives to give participants a chance to be city creators in more concrete and sustained ways and move from dialogue to action. That involves working with individuals who are embedded within institutions (e.g. parents, teachers, young leaders within community organizations, museum staff, etc.). Program initiatives are designed to be personally engaging and meaningful, build the capacity of the organizations involved around their core mission, and lead to visible community outcomes for which individuals are accountable both to the project team and the organizations they represent.

This approach involves Imagine Chicago in three interrelated activities:

* designing frameworks for community and organizational innovation with positive and empowering assumptions, that build skills through hands-on experiences and create accountable structures and networks for moving forward key ideas which emerge from the groups;

* developing innovative programs which test and showcase tools and approaches that can be used by community groups to inspire and sustain civic engagement and action;

* building dynamic collaborations between institutions (represented by interested change agents), which enable them to accomplish their central mission and build their long-term capacity — in addition to creating something of benefit for the city as a whole.