Participatory Governance Redesign

Overview

Contributed to a participatory governance redesign of Promise Partnership Utah's council structure. The process fundamentally restructured decision-making to redistribute organisational power toward communities with lived experience of the issues the partnership addresses.

Context

The existing governance model concentrated decision-making among institutional stakeholders. As the organisation deepened its commitment to racial equity, it became clear that the governance structure needed to reflect the communities it aimed to serve, not just the institutions that funded or administered programmes.

Approach

• Participated in a working group tasked with reimagining the council's composition and authority
• Used participatory design methods to centre the voices of community members with lived experience
• Facilitated conversations about power, representation, and accountability within the partnership
• Developed new governance protocols and decision-making frameworks

Outcomes

• Fundamentally restructured governance systems now embedded in the organisation's strategic model
• Increased community representation in partnership decision-making
• New governance framework adopted as a core component of the 5-year strategic plan