Pull up a chair and
project co-create
ACF is promoting participatory change making as a productive system that will leverage the county’s strengths. We are committed to investing in it and working with partners to advance it. But first, we need to define what “it” actually is.
Through Project Co-Create, we will define and activate a participatory change-making model so that Athens County can collaboratively develop solutions to address challenges and pursue opportunities with greater efficiency, speed, reach, and impact.
This model can become a system that harnesses the strengths of the county, open to everyone, to pursue shared goals.
ACF has formulated a Co-Creation Model for testing, greatly informed by our last decade of work, other models, and projects around the country. This model begins with connections, builds to cooperation, and finally ascends to a collaboration. These represent how individuals, organizations, businesses, and institutions work together, each engaged, each providing input, each accountable for the outcome.
- The individuals involved should include those who are directly impacted by the work. Community members deserve a say in the decisions that will affect their lives.
- Everyone should be proximate to the problems and opportunities, meaning they have an obligation to seek out perspectives and information from others.
- While this is a continuum, not every project will ultimately become a Collaboration and this is not a linear process. Some projects may cycle as conditions change, some may achieve the goal without becoming a Collaboration.
- Anyone can be a champion for Co-Creation. A project can be initiated by anyone in the county who wants to bring people and parties together to work towards a shared goal or objective.
The Co-Creation Model
Forming connections
A common problem or opportunity
Complimentary information
Willingness to align activities
Voluntary participation
Trust begins
Fostering cooperations
A shared focus or goal
Integral knowledge and insights
Willingness to work together
Defined roles with responsibilities
Trust builds
Formalizing collaborations
A common, aligned agenda
Assigned roles with accountability (information, insights, representation)
Willingness to function as one entity
Trust is strong
ACF recognizes that a critical condition for co-creation to function is to have a high-level of engagement. Everyone in the county must have the opportunity to fully participate in their communities and be part of the decision-making processes that impact their lives.
While we advance the co-creation model, we’ll also focus our grantmaking and programs to invest in our county’s strengths to enable participation, elevate leaders, expand capacity, and enrich initiatives.
You + ACF = Collaborators
Let’s get to work.
If we’re working towards the same goal, with the same level of commitment, we will move forward. Thank you for being part of this incredible opportunity to build on the strengths of Athens County.
mission | We build on the strengths of our community, advancing participation and collaboration to address longstanding challenges and pursue extraordinary opportunities.
vision | Everyone in Athens County is engaged and working together to ensure a healthy, inclusive, thriving community for all.