Water Conversations Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet and FAQs

Water Conversations Fact Sheet

The following FAQ list is an shortened version of our project fact sheet, and provides some answers questions asked about the Water Conversations project.  Please feel free to contact us for addtional information:

Why: The objective was to hear, first hand, what residents are saying about water and to stimulate questions from participants so that we could:

• Learn what they would like to know about water.
• Share constituents’ views with policy makers, legislators, and local stakeholders to increase their awareness and understanding.

What: Neutral facilitators used a discussion guide produced by The Center for the Book that offers three views and three approaches to the issue. The guide can be viewed at:  http://www.delibcanet.org/page33.php

• Participants talked about each approach and what they liked or disliked about each.
• The goal was for group members to share and learn about each others perspectives regarding water issues in a forum that promoted deliberation and dialogue.
• The conversations were not debates nor a push for any particular view or policy.

How: During 2011, we created a short documentary-type video and a written report describing what participants had to say, based on:

• Detailed notes taken at all conversations.
• Some photographs and video-taping of conversations.
• A group of self-selected video-taped statements by participants.