Community Action Roadmap Step 4: Develop an Action Plan

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Try it Out!
• Engagement Strategies

For the next step in the process, collaborate with your partners to select a project and develop a robust action plan for achieving your goal. An action plan outlines the set of activities for your project and designates timing and leads for each activity. In addition, you will need to consider what engagement strategy will best support your project and define how you plan to measure success for your efforts. 

Try it Out!

1. Pick a Project. What project will help you best meet the goal you established in Step 2?  Review the exercise under Check Your Ports Primer for Communities! for ideas of what has worked in similar communities. Consider what project makes sense for you to pursue now and what others you would like to keep in mind as you build your capacity and momentum. Also, consider whether a direct dialogue with port decision-makers at this time could be helpful for selecting a near-term project that engages the port collaboratively.


2. Select Your Engagement Strategy. Review the engagement strategies chart below and determine which method is the most effective way for you to engage the community and decision-makers. Depending on where you are in the process, you may choose to focus on education, input, collaboration, mitigation, advocacy, or some combination.


3. Develop an Action Plan. Develop a chart similar to the one below, and list each activity needed to accomplish your project. Then designate a lead and create a timeframe. Establish a regular check-in schedule between lead partners to stay coordinated and help each other problem-solve when you encounter roadblocks. Keep your supporters updated, motivated and involved.


4. Define Success. Place a star next to key milestones in your action plan to evaluate and celebrate success. Review the two Measuring Success resources listed on the Community Action Roadmap: Resources page. What are some metrics for measuring your process and organizational capacity (building skills)? What metrics (methods for measuring) can help measure tangible outcomes? 


5. Identify Resources. Reach out to partner agencies and organizations to identify grants, technical assistance, programs and other resources to help implement your project. If your organization is new, you can partner on grant applications to build your grant management track record, and ask agency staff for assistance.