Process Matters
Germantown Settlement thoroughly developed its vision, structure and agenda for the governance body. Turnout for the Germantown Community Collaboration Board elections often exceed rates for public elections.
In 2001, Boston’s Mattapan Community Partnership sought help from Philadelphia‘s Germantown Settlement in launching a Community Ambassadors Program. The exchange centered on the development of the Germantown Settlement’s Community Collaboration Board, a 47-member, resident-led governing board that oversees the Settlement’s work. This report describes the exchange and lessons learned by Germantown Settlement. It includes the importance of board elections, resident leadership skills, youth involvement, organizational development and neighborhood capacity to develop a shared agenda, use data and raise funds. The peer match was arranged by Casey’s Making Connections Technical Assistance Resource Center when the Foundation’s initiative was in full swing.
Creating a resident-led governance structure in a very poor, diverse community requires authentic, demonstrable commitment to strengthening resident leaders, an open decision-making processes and an investment in the governing body to assure long-term sustainability.