Southern Growth Think Tank Adopts
Collaborative Approach to Policy Work
The approach, which Southern Growth began applying to projects in 2001, “turns the traditional think-tank model on its head,” says Clinton. Rather than doing research in a library, talking to a handful of experts, then telling leaders what to do, he says, the organization has adopted a broad-based consensus-building strategy to fulfill its policy goals.
“Our underlying premise is that if we’re going to make broad and sweeping recommendations, they need to be based on a strong vision of consensus,” he said. “They need to cut across party lines, racial lines, and economic lines; and they need to involve as many people at the table as possible.”
The multi-step process for achieving consensus on a given topic area, begins with a brainstorming retreat – attended by invited leaders and other policy experts– to identify challenges and potential recommendations.
Using those draft recommendations as a starting point, Southern Growth then hosts a series of focus groups in six or seven member states to present, test, and gather feedback on the draft ideas. Next, they assemble a Community Forum tool kit that includes guidelines and information on the topic for moderators and community members. Schools, civic clubs, churches, neighborhoods and other organizations host these forums throughout the region, enabling Southern Growth to extend the conversation and gather further input.
According to Clinton, the community forums serve as an important gathering place for dialog and partnership building on key policy issues.
“From a policy standpoint, the forums help us get grounded in what people are thinking and feeling about a certain topic,” he said. “They help ensure that the final recommendations are directly connected to what people are saying.
“From a community standpoint, they provide a non-threatening environment for people to have constructive conversations about important issues, and to think about what they might be able to do in their own communities to move forward in a particular area.”
Topic areas for Southern Growth’s projects and policy recommendations stem from an annual “Future of the South” report, spearheaded by Southern Growth Policies Board and planned and released by one of four advisory councils that provide guidance on the regional initiatives. A Southern governor chairs each of the four advisory councils.
Alabama Governor Bob Riley, who chairs the 2005 initiative focused on rural development, described the Southern Growth stakeholder involvement process as an important step toward earning citizens’ trust.
“In our efforts to reform government, we must engage more stakeholders – in all sectors of society – to help define the problems and identify solutions,” Gov. Riley said. “Such collaborative approaches will give our citizens the confidence that government serves the people first, and the people only.”
At Southern Growth’s annual conference in mid-June, Gov. Riley will release the 2005 report along with the other advisory council chairs, Govs. Kathleen Blanco (Louisiana), Brad Henry (Oklahoma), and Mike Huckabee (Arkansas). In addition to releasing the 2005 findings, the governors will host an interactive town hall meeting on rural development in the south.
The 2006 process is beginning now. Co-chaired by Louisiana Governor Blanco and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, the coming year’s initiative will focus on southern technology and innovation.
For more information, visit the Southern Growth Policies Board. Or contact Executive Director Jim Clinton.