How Extension can Help?

We provide facilitation

Extension’s Leadership and Civic Engagement Regional Educators provide excellent facilitation services for organizations and community meetings. Our educators work before the meeting to learn about the group, analyze its dynamics, and design a meeting that will get the group to its desired outcome. Then, educators work during the meeting to keep everything on track and provide neutral group leadership. After the meeting, they summarize findings and recommend next steps the group might take.

Is it time to use an outside facilitator? Consider the advantages and disadvantages.

Who has taken advantage of this service?

Here are some examples of times and places where U-Facilitate services have worked.

The City of Preston, Minnesota wanted to generate ideas for using a small grant to invest in the future of their community.
The Lyle School District in Minnesota wanted to hold community meetings to manage conflict over a school bond issue. After Extension-led discussion and fact-finding, the bond issue moved to the ballot.
The Morrison County Board of Commissioners wanted to spend time visioning a new future for the county.
The Association of Minnesota Counties wanted county elected officials to consider how county government might look different in the future.
The Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership used Extension facilitators to lead the development of a vision for the region around hydrology and land use issues.

What do U-Facilitate’s clients say?

“The work done ahead of time by our consultant was remarkable. He had a firm grasp of our organization and anticipated our group interactions and power struggles. The comment I heard the most from our board members was that he was almost transparent in his facilitation. He didn’t impose his views, but rather led the group through the process and helped them come to their own decisions.”
“The rating for strength during program of Neutral Facilitation was ‘off the chart’!”
“The facilitator is a consummate professional who comes off in a very sincere, caring manner.”
“She did an excellent job working with the group and strong persons with diverse ideas and goals.”
“Our committee members ended up on the same page.”
“She followed up when some members stayed out of the process to assure their input and ownership. This was very successful.”

We train facilitators

Regional educators provide training to those who facilitate meetings. Our goal is to build the facilitation skills of leaders and citizens so that the capacity to make group decisions effectively is embedded in communities.

Who has taken advantage of these trainings?

The Western Lakes Superior Sanitary District in Duluth, Minnesota brought Extension’s U-Facilitate training to employees who had moved from technical positions to project team leader positions.
The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation sponsored a U-Facilitate training to help local leaders conduct successful town meetings.
The Hennepin South Services Collaborative sponsored a U-Facilitate training for staff and community members who were facilitating community-based parenting groups.

What do training participants say?

(After the training) “I received feedback from a co-worker that my confidence had improved.”
“Good information; shared-modeling and role-playing really helped to demonstrate techniques.”
“Excellent materials, great opportunities to share and practice skills. Well-organized format; experienced, competent facilitators.”