Faculty Chair(s):
Martin Linsky
OVERVIEW
Please don't hesitate to contact Jane Latcham, Program Director, at 617-495-0855 or jane_latcham@harvard.edu for further information on the program or team application process.
The complex problems facing American cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural areas require innovative approaches and non-traditional alliances to produce lasting community change. Community Problem Solving effectively engages civic leaders with diverse backgrounds and disparate aspirations. By exploring proven best practices as well as analyzing examples of failure and barriers to change, teams will gain a deeper and practical understanding of how to marshal the resources needed to achieve true transformation. The program setting and design serves the range of learning styles within the class and promotes a collective sense of accomplishment, group learning, and team development that ensure real momentum to create change back home.
After completing the program, teams will be prepared to:
- Diagnose the systemic causes of a critical community issue.
- Identify the key stakeholders on all sides of an issue, assess their interests, and leverage their networks of influence.
- Build trust among stakeholders who resist change.
- Create momentum for effective action among stakeholders with different points of view.
- Structure and negotiate agreements for the community and stake holder accountability.
- Help shape a coordinated agenda for community action and share credit for progress among different stakeholders and audiences.
No individual applications will be accepted.
Each team must choose a person to coordinate the process and be the primary contact for the team. Please see the Admission page for details.