Cook County and Charleston County shared their experiences engaging communities in discussions around safety and justice challenges. Both counties used dialogue circles and surveys to gather input from over 1,000 community members total. Key takeaways included the need to address racial bias and disparities, improve perceptions of trust in law enforcement and the justice system, and support reentry for those returning from incarceration. Survey results showed people found value in participating and being heard. The counties are using this community input to inform strategic planning and identify priorities like increasing training, creating more engagement opportunities, and establishing partnerships to support reform.

1. “WHAT IT TAKES” COOK AND
CHARLESTON COUNTIES SHARE
INSIGHTS FROM THEIR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
DIALOGUE-TO-CHANGE PROCESS
SAFETY AND JUSTICE CHALLENGE
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
MAY 20, 2020

2. Moderator: Carolyne
Abdullah, Everyday
Democracy
Gwen Wright,
Everyday Democracy,
Network Consultant
Moderator:
Gwendolyn Whiting
Everyday Democracy

3. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
THE SAFETY AND JUSTICE
CHALLENGE NETWORK
Everyday Democracy’s Role:
 To communicate the value and practice the
work of community engagement, with a
racial equity lens, through our Dialogue to
Change Approach – in Justice System
Reform….

4. Everyday Democracy
Dialogue-To-Change Approach
Here’s how it works…
Coalition
Building
Facilitator TrainingOrganizing
Training
Recruit Participants &
Facilitators
CommunityChange
Organize ActionDialogue
Kick
Off
Action
Forum
Individual
Change
Institutional and
Policy Change
Collective
Action

5. Delrice Adams, Executive
Director, JAC
Cook County, Chicago IL
Ray Robinson
Community Engagement
Kim Davis-Ambrose
C.E. Coordinator

6. Adina Gross
Communications and
Community Outreach
Kristy Pierce Danford
Director, CJCC
Charleston County, SC
Keith Fields
Community Engagement
Committee

7. COOK COUNTY:
“DIALOGUES TO
CHANGE”
Using Dialogue Circles to Raise
Community Voice through a Racial
Equity Lens

8. Community Engagement Activities
and Timelines
8
17
MONTHLY
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
COMMITTEE
MEETINGS
JUNE 2018
3
COMMUNITY KICK
OFF SUMMITS
1 PER
COMMUNITY
APRIL 2019
6
INTERGENERATIONAL
2 PER COMMUNITY
MARCH-AUGUST
2019
15
5-WEEK
DIALOGUE
SESSIONS
JUNE-JULY 2019
4
EMERGING ADULT
MARCH-AUGUST
2019
5
ON SITE
PRESENTATIONS
JUNE –JULY
2019

9. Cook County – Community
Engagement Outcomes
 115 attended Community Summits
 144 participated in Dialogues
 Over 1000 outreached
 400 surveyed
9

10. Charleston County
Community Engagement Strategy to Raise
Awareness and
Engage Community in Problem Solving
GOAL: Engage 1,000 community members to
help set the course for the next strategic plan

11. Charleston County
Step by Step Process
2020 CJCC
Strategic Plan
1,000+
Community
Voices
654
Surveys
460 Large
Group
Events
101
Roundtable
Dialogues

12. CHARLESTON COUNTY
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT VIDEO

13. Challenges and Successes
• Vulnerability of internal
stakeholders to engage
community
• Community lack of trust
with government
• Relationship building with
groups/individuals who
have been negatively
impacted by justice system
• Traditional outreach
ineffective
• Successes in Building
Community Trust
– Acknowledge historical role of
government
– Offer transparency and
support not a “fix”
– Authentic partnerships (i.e.
outreach, speakers) needed
to develop innovative
outreach efforts
– Deliver results (not just
talking to talk)

14. Valuable Lessons Learned
 Addressing Stakeholders Concerns
 Be willing to have the hard conversations
(face to face)
 Validate others concerns
 Share, share, and share Community
Engagement information every step of the
way

15. COOK COUNTY
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT VIDEO

16. Bringing Together Diverse Voices
 Everyone’s voice has an opportunity to be heard,
equally and respectfully;
 People of Different background and views
routinely work together to create equitable
communities;
 Create opportunities for people, institutions, and
government to work together for common good;
 Recognize how structural racism has shaped our
nation and our communities.

17. Surprising Outcomes and Dialogue
Survey Results
• People actually showed
up and were really
committed
• People took time out of
their lives to participate in
the process
• As a community, we
gained so much out of it!
• Increased knowledge and
awareness
• Opportunity to share
experiences and
suggestions
• Participation was valued
and felt heard
• Learned from other
points of view
• Motivated to act
• Would recommend to
others

18. Community Survey Results

19. Cook County Summary of Dialogue
Themes/Recommendations
19

20. Charleston County
Qualitative Analysis: 5 Key Themes
 Racial bias and socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and low educational
attainment, exacerbate disparity in the justice system.
 The everyday conduct and behaviors of system agents, such as police officers,
defense attorneys and prosecutors, and judges, impacts perceptions of
trustworthiness, accountability and transparency of the criminal justice
system.
 Engagement strategies such as transparent reporting, public forums and
community conversations are helpful in improving the local justice system.
 There are major challenges for individuals returning to the community from
incarceration, such as system-related financial obligations, housing,
treatment, transportation, employment and regaining community trust.
 Outcomes produced by the local criminal justice system need to be improved.

21. Action Forum Priorities and Next Steps
 Increase education, training & awareness for
justice system stakeholders
 Create more opportunities for community
residents to become actively involved and engaged
 Build on efforts and activities already underway
 Establish partnerships and collaborations that will
support local justice reform

22. REFLECTIONS
 Please share a statement that reflects your
own jurisdiction’s value or role of
community engagement in the SJC
Initiative.

23. Thank you!