Otis White

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When Bad Things Happen to Good Governments

February 7, 2018 By Otis White Leave a Comment

Governments sometimes lose their way. But there’s a group you can always call on for help, if you know how to ask. It’s not an organized group, but its members do have a name. We call them “citizens.”

How Citizen Engagement Could Save State Politics

October 24, 2017 By Otis White 1 Comment

And why it ought to be done, year in and year out, by a political party. That’s right. A political party.

A Beginner’s Guide to Facilitation

January 25, 2016 By Otis White Leave a Comment

If you can bring groups to good decisions, you can place yourself at the center of what cities need today, which is more collaboration. Here are some starting points for facilitators.

The Seedbed of Civic Involvement

February 26, 2013 By Otis White Leave a Comment

If you want strong local leaders and involved citizens in the future, start today by helping people find one another and get organized for any legitimate purpose. Then be patient. The good news: Cities are good at helping people make connections. With a little effort, they could be great.

“What” Before “How”

September 11, 2012 By Otis White 1 Comment

Cities are often bogged down in unproductive debates for a simple reason: They’re talking about issues in the wrong way. Smart leaders know the right sequence, which involves talking thoroughly about the problem and the benefits of solving it before talking about the solution. In other words, “what” before “how.”

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About Otis White

Otis White is president of Civic Strategies, Inc., a collaborative and strategic planning firm for local governments and civic organizations. He has written about cities and their leaders for more than 30 years. For more information about Otis and his work, please visit www.civic-strategies.com.

The Great Project

Otis White's multimedia book, "The Great Project," is available on Apple iTunes for reading on an iPad. The book is about how a single civic project changed a city and offers important lessons for civic leaders considering their own "great projects" . . . and for students in college planning and political science programs.

For more information about the book, please visit the iTunes Great Project page.

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