Collaboration through Study Circles

Communities are telling inspiring stories about what happens when they use public dialogue and action to involve large numbers of citizens--with the greatest diversity possible--in a search for common ground to resolve tough issues like race, community police relations, and education reform. These efforts, often called "study circles," are powerful vehicles for communities to partner, share resources, and collaborate. Study circles are small discussion groups that meet several times to talk about a public problem in a reasonable, respectful way. It makes sense to collaborate, partner, and share resources any time that a problem transcends any one sector or organization--when solving it requires the ideas and energies of people from across the community. Ironically, the more squeezed the resources, the more it makes sense. When it is the hardest to do, it is most important. Here are some common pitfalls of collaboration, and ways communities have overcome them: (1) Knowing what's wrong and offering ready made answers; (2) Lacking diversity in a partnership; (3) Failing to listen to one other; (4) Failing to engage residents; (5) Avoiding meaningful action; and (6) Thinking success is self-evident.