Confluence Policy & Strategy Group

Now More Than Ever We are living in a moment defined by complexity, mistrust, and political gridlock. The stakes of public decisions are high, but so are the risks of inaction. Communities are polarized. Public confiden...

Most task forces fail before they begin.

Not because the issue is too hard but because the process was never built to succeed.

Final piece in our CDMP series is live. Full white paper next week.

confluencepsg.com/now-more-tha...

Maintaining Momentum Without a clear plan to sustain engagement, even the most promising CDMPs risk losing credibility or collapsing into dysfunction.Here’s how to keep your process moving forward after the excitement of ...

Keeping a process on track takes more than good intentions. From regular check-ins to recalibrating priorities, this post gives leaders the tools to sustain engagement and keep progress moving. Read more in the latest piece in our CDMP series

🔗 confluencepsg.com/maintaining-...

Preparing for Launch If you skip the foundational steps to launching a work group or task force, your first session may feel more like a stumble than a start. A strong launch sets the tone, pace, and expectations for ever...

For a work group or task force, the first meeting sets the tone for the whole process. Don’t wing it. Here’s how to prepare a CDMP for launch and avoid common pitfalls.
More 👉 confluencepsg.com/preparing-fo...

Choosing the Right Participants For A Task Force or Work Group The success of a collaborative decision making process (CDMP) is shaped not just by what’s discussed but by who’s in the room. And while it’s tempting to start with a stakeholder checklist or a list o...

Who you invite shapes what you decide. In collaborative design making processes, choosing participants is as strategic as the decisions they’ll make.
Details here 👉 confluencepsg.com/choosing-the...

Selecting the Right Facilitator Facilitation has become a catch-all term. Today, nearly anyone who hosts a meeting or runs a retreat might call themselves a facilitator. But CDMPs aren’t about hosting meetings. They’re about solving...

A skilled facilitator doesn’t just run the meeting—they guide the process. Here's how to choose one who can navigate tension, build trust, and drive decisions. bit.ly/4bq9qAo

Assembling the Right Team for a Task Force or Work Group Collaborative Decision Making Processes (CDMPs) require more than just participants. They require a support structure that is designed with the same intention and clarity as the process itself. In thi...

A Task Force, Committee or Working Group is only as strong as the team behind it. Learn how to build the right mix of roles, perspectives, and authority to get real results.
Read more 👉 bit.ly/45wHpmP

The #1 task force mistake? Trying to solve too much.

If your scope is too wide, your process won’t go anywhere.  

Clear scope = clear outcomes.

#TaskForceTips #Leadership #CDMP #EffectiveGovernance #ConsensusBuilding #PublicPolicy #CollaborativeDecisionMaking

The Engine Behind the Process: Managing an Effective CDMP On some of the most challenging issues facing communities, agencies, and governments, the way a Collaborative Decision Making Process (CDMP) is managed can make or break its outcomes.

While a thoughtfully structured task force or work group sets the foundation, the effectiveness of the process itself hinges on how it is run. Our latest piece in the series outlines key best practices to manage and operationalize a collaborative process. confluencepsg.com/the-engine-b...

Today, the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Board (WRCB) met in Golden, CO to continue their work developing a statewide code. It’s no small lift for the Board to tackle such complex & critical issues & their work is strengthened by the active engagement of the public.

Passenger rail gains steam in CO via leadership of @GovofCO, vision of @ColoradoDOT Dir. Lew, Sr. Advisor Lisa Kaufmann & partnership w/ @RideRTD @COFRPR + CO leg & CoDel champions @SenatorBennet @Hickenlooper @JoeNeguse & @pettersen4co https://bit.ly/4hprdYQ

The Task Force Related to the Rights of Coloradans with Disabilities is soliciting input to inform recommendations on issues from housing & outdoor recreation to government services & changes to state anti-discrimination laws. Input is open through Oct 21 https://bit.ly/1296ideas

A great turnout of #Wildfire Resiliency Code Board (WRCB) members & the public at the WRCB meeting in Alamosa, CO). Honored to support this group who continue their thoughtful collaboration & are on track to develop new code for adoption in 2025.  #CollaborativeDecisionMaking

Thank you @Velasco4CO for sponsoring SB23-166 creating the #Wildfire Resilience Code Board in @COStateFire & for joining members today as they continue their work to develop code to improve resiliency & mitigate risks to life & property. #publicpolicy #wildfirerisk

Energizing, time w/ leaders of CO's Division of Housing building roadmap for turning priorities into actions, exploring opportunities to lean-in on mission, be go-to partner & proactive, forward thinking leader on housing.
#AffordableHousing #WorkforceHousing #StrategicPlanning

#SchoolSafety Report released by @PEBCorg & @ConfluencePSG: Report highlights opportunities for action at the state and local levels to improve school safety. #edpolicy #schoolviolence https://bit.ly/3KaIPIB

In addition to our support of collaborative decision making processes in nearly every policy area, our @Center4EdPolicy is working w/partners nationally to align post-secondary & job-training opportunities w/ tomorrow’s workforce needs https://youtu.be/KW1s3MfPW1c?si=uC8SxPmHP8rFXxzb

We’re inspired by work of fire officials, local govt leaders, utility reps & other experts on Wildfire Resiliency Code Board who are developing code to mitigate wildfire risk. With meetings held across the state to maximize participation, WRCB was joined today by @CSFS_Outreach

Honored to be joined by @KatyAnthes at today's CO #SaferSchools Initiative mtg. After leading #k12 ed in CO as Commissioner, Katy is now Dir of Forward at @PEBC, helping to move conversations from polarization to progress in ed discussions. #edpolicy #edcolo

Great insights f/@HUDgov's Amy Gioletti & Pat Coyle ofAtlantic Community Foundation at today's #Housing Subcommittee mtg of the Task Force on the Rights of Coloradans w/Disabilities. Grateful for the members of this group & leadership of @LtGovofCO & @DavidDOrtizCO

A powerful & productive #StrategicPlanning session w/ @COLocalAffairs leaders as they explore how to be an even more effective, efficient, transparent government agency, an innovative thought leader & a trusted partner to the people & local governments they serve.

To address growing risk posed by wildfires, CO #Wildfire Resiliency Code Board is working diligently to learn, listen as they develop state code. Today’s mtg features presentations from @IntlCodeCouncil & @NFPA. Appreciate @IdahoSpringsCO hosting! @costatefire #wildfireresiliency

A powerful conversation on trauma informed practices among amazing group of CO educators in today's CO #SaferSchools Initiative mtg. Grateful to our @PEBCorg partners for leading today's panel! #schoolsafety #traumainformed #teachers https://saferschoolsinitiative.org/colorado/

Our 1st newsletter of 2024 is out. Check out At The Confluence for a recap of some of the amazing projects we were fortunate to support in 2023 & a preview of 2024! (news + newsletter sign-up at link). #collaboration #consensusbuilding https://conta.cc/48yYnAA

We are honored by all who trusted us in 2023 to support critical work on so many issues. Our work home in #Colorado always has special meaning. We are grateful for the incredible staff in state & local gov't & the hundreds who generously give time & expertise to these processes.

Great meeting with the CO Wildfire Resiliency Code Board! Incredible group of experts who are digging into some critical work for Colorado’s communities developing statewide standards & codes for wildfire resiliency. #wildfire #wildfireresiliency

Great panel #TraumaInformedPractices in #lockdown drills at CO #SaferSchools Initiative mtg. After welcome by @codepted Commissioner @SusanaCDenver, Sen. @Zenzinger_AtoZ & Sen. @Janice_Marchman. Honored to collab w/our @PEBCorg partners to convene! https://youtu.be/LuVfhR1E5wo

A true privilege to spend some long days leading strategic planning retreat of #JuvenileJustice & #DelinquencyPrevention Council. Thank you for your work & trusting us to support you. Overwhelmed, inspired & optimistic. Words we heard at conclusion of time together. We agree!

6 reasons a #workgroup or #taskforce may be the best path forward: In part 2 of our series, Confluence PSG Policy Director, Carrie Steele discusses benefits of collaborative processes to address complex or contentious issues. #publicpolicy #collaboration https://bit.ly/4678DhM

Task Force, Work Group, Blue Ribbon Commission... The name may vary but collaborative decision making bodies have potential to inform bold, consensus based action when effectively structured & run. Part 1 of our blog series on these processes is up now. https://bit.ly/45yM9X0

Being neutral as facilitators – in fact & perception - is critical to build trust & achieve sustainable outcomes. It's also complicated for facilitators & process sponsors to get right. Next week, a blog series on neutrality & task force best practices. http://www.confluencepsg.com