IAP2 USA ONLINE COURSES

Flagship Courses

IAP2 Certificate in Public Participation – We are very excited to be launching the next evolution of training that builds on our foundational best practices. Our flagship Foundations training program has been updated and now consists of three core courses. Visit our training calendar to register for updated course offerings.

IAP2 USA's Certificate in Public Participation (P2) consists of 3 core courses - Fundamentals of Public Participation, Designing Public Participation, and Applying Methods. Based on IAP2's internationally recognized Global Learning Pathway, this professional development certificate program builds on the foundations of public participation training and best practices from around the globe to provide participants with approximately 30 hours of effective training in public participation and engagement.

Fundamentals of Public Participation (Prerequisite to other courses)

Who: For all practitoners

This course:

  • Explores IAP2’s best practices and underlying frameworks to create meaningful participation and reflect on one’s own existing practice
  • Centers diversity, equity and inclusion in the practice of engagement
  • Allows participant’s to apply this knowledge to their own public participation practice

Designing Public Participation

Who: For practitioners who are leading the planning and implementation of public participation processes

This course:

  • Helps practitioners design an engagement process and plan for a real-world scenario

Applying Methods

Who: For practitioners who are part of a team implementing a public participation process and are looking for the practical skills to be effective in designing and applying methods.

This course:

  • Provides opportunities to practice and evaluate methods
  • Demonstrates ways to blend methods into hybrid techniques
  • Shares techniques to craft questions to draw out meaningful input
Learn More!

As a key leader in the public participation sector IAP2 USA provides skills-based learning to people and organizations on what they need to know and do, so that they can successfully develop, deliver, and lead authentic engagement processes.

"I wanted to tell you that I’m getting great feedback from everyone and it’s truly been a life changing experience for some, which I knew it would be. I can’t thank you enough for your help this past week and I look forward to two more trainings for the rest of my Public Outreach & Engagement Peer Group. We have about 45 people all being trained with IAP2. Just think what a difference that will make in our Agency moving forward!"

Deanna J. Desedas, Public Outreach & Engagement Manager
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

North American Conference


SAVE THE DATE

Join us in Seattle, Washington September 13-15, 2023 for the IAP2 North American Conference hosted by IAP2 USA.

    Registration Opens Soon

    All Upcoming Courses

    • Riding the Storm: Bravely Leading in times of polarization and disruption- Self Paced Learning: At your own pace, in your own time

      • April 22, 2021
      • December 31, 2023
      • Online - Self Paced Learning
      Register

      Introducing IAP2 USA's first online, self-paced training opportunity

      This new self-paced course will build your skills and knowledge for bravely leading in times of polarization and conflict.

      We live in times of rapid change, upheaval and global inter-connection. We are experiencing a growing divide and polarization between people, with an increasing dynamic of us versus them. We've seen a rise in public shame, blame and vitriol. We face enormous complex challenges like climate change, the global refugee crisis, systemic racism and inequity. We've been hit with a global pandemic which is causing rising fear, anxiety and uncertainty.

      While all these things are in the space of the public arena where we interact with each other every day, we have a unique opportunity to choose how we want to lead these biggest challenges of our lives and choose how we want to work together with others.

      It starts with you. Ask yourself these questions:

      • What is happening around you that you want to step in to?

      • How do you want to lead in ways that are different than you are leading now?

      • What would be different if you were better equipped to bravely lead challenging conversations?

      • What works and what doesn’t and what do you need to watch out for?

      The course opens with an introductory video lecture on key concepts, with 4 more modules where you can work at your own pace to build competency in key areas of leadership in a world of complexity, polarization and disruption. The Modules cover: 

      • Bravely leading challenging conversations 

      • Holding space for high emotion 

      • Building trust in the public arena 

      • De-escalation tools for high stakes interactions

      Priced lower than our other courses, this self-paced training allows you to learn when and where it works best for you. When you are done, you qualify for a free coaching session with Steph Roy McCallum, the course instructor, to deepen and apply your learning.

      $365 Members -- $455 Non-Members

      *IAP2 USA Members must login to receive the members only rate

      *IAP2 International Members can email info@iap2usa for a discount code

       — Cancellation and Substitution policy —

      Trainer: Stephani Roy McCallum

      Stephani is Chief Storm Rider at the Courageous Leadership Project. She is a Leadership Coach, Certified Professional Facilitator, and a seasoned leader specializing in conflict, high emotion and controversy. She has worked internationally on controversial projects with individuals, organizations and communities to transform conflict and create momentum for positive change. Stephani believes that brave, honest conversations solve the problems in our world.

      She has led and managed conversations involving more than 30,000 participants, and has worked on five continents facilitating complex topics like municipal budgets, school closures, land use, health care, transportation, nuclear waste, natural disaster, truth and reconciliation, environment and more.

      Stephani has been the Project Lead on a number of international and national award winning projects, including a project which received the IAP2 International Core Values Award for finding common ground and a way forward for the blood donation policy for men who have had sex with other men for Canadian Blood Services, a highly divisive and polarizing issue.

      She has been a licensed trainer of the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Foundations in Public Participation since 2005, and was a lead developer of IAP2’s Strategies for Public Opposition and Outrage course. She was an IAP2 Assessor, coach and mentor for new candidate trainers for all of IAP2's training programs from 2011 to 2016, and continues to serve as an Assessor and Coach for new trainers of the Outrage program. She was the 2008 President of IAP2 International. Stephani has a background in Sociology and holds certificates in Co-active coaching, Courageous Leadership, Authentic Leadership, community development & alternative dispute resolution. She regularly speaks and presents internationally on how to lead powerfully in the face of challenges, creating new more possible futures for all of us, together.



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    • IAP2's Fundamentals of Public Participation

      • June 06, 2023
      • (EDT)
      • June 07, 2023
      • (EDT)
      • 2 sessions
      • Online with Trainer Cassie Hemphill
      • 0
      • 20 registrants
      Join waitlist

      Fundamentals of Public Participation

      First course to be taken before Designing Public Participation and Applying Methods

      The Fundamentals of Public Participation (P2) course is a prerequisite to other courses in the Global Learning Pathway that sets out the underpinning models and frameworks of engagement practice as defined by the IAP2 community.

      The focus of this course is on understanding and applying the practices of meaningful and effective P2 and what participants need to know to do this well. The training explores best practices, and how to design and apply this knowledge to your P2.

      Course objectives

      By the end of this course participants will be able to:

      • Define P2 and related terms and what makes it unique
      • Identify what makes P2 meaningful, and reflect on the benefits, risks and myths related to P2
      • Identify the role that values play in P2 work, and the leadership attributes that will serve them in practice 
      • Reflect on and apply ethical leadership actions and abilities to P2 situations
      • Apply the Profiles of P2 model to P2, and explore organization- and community-led engagement and how that impacts the engagement process
      • Reflect on and apply the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and explore the roles and impacts of power and influence
      • Apply the IAP2 Spectrum to P2 situations and practice
      • Explore the Practice Framework as a tool for effective planning and process, and assess the quality of the process

      Professional Certification/Credits

      THIS COURSE

      #1 Fundamentals of Public Participation (2 - 4 hour sessions CM I 8 CM) 

        June 6-7, 2023      1 PM – 5 PM ET

        Members $275 --  Regular $325

        Last day to Register June 2, 2023

         — Cancellation and Substitution policy —

        **You must first complete this module before Designing Public Participation and Applying Methods**


        #2 Designing Public Participation (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 16 CM) 

        July 24-27, 2023       1 PM – 5 PM ET

        Members $550 -- Regular $650 

        Last day to Register July 20, 2023


        Certificate Program - All Three Modules (10 - 4 hour Sessions) 

        Package (3 courses): The first course will be offered in-person on September 13 in Seattle, WA (Fundamentals). And then the program will continue virtually on September 26-29 (Designing Public Participation) and on October 10-13, 2023 (Applying Methods).

           Regular $1,625  Members $1,375 


          Cassie Hemphill has more than 25 years of experience in public participation and 15 years designing and delivering training. Her courses emphasize transferable, applied skills participants use to become more effective in their work and personal lives and improve the world around them. Cassie’s Ph.D. research explored public/private collaboration in environmental management. Her M.A. research analyzed decision-makers' openness to public input. She has a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and is an IAP2 USA Certified Public Participation Practitioner (CP3), a Certified Mediator (CM), and a Certified Virtual Facilitator (CVF).


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        • IAP2's Applying Methods for Public Participation

          • June 20, 2023
          • (EDT)
          • June 23, 2023
          • (EDT)
          • 4 sessions
          • Online with Trainers Craddock Stropes & Doug Zenn
          • 13
          • 5 registrants
          Register

          ***Fundamentals of Public Participation is the prerequisite for this course

          Completion of IAP2 Foundations in P2: Planning For Effective Public Participation prior to 2023 also counts as a prerequisite for this course***

          IAP2's Applying Methods for Public Participation

          Four 4-hour sessions

          June 20-23, 2023
          1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern
          12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Central
          11:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m. Mountain

          10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Pacific

          Applying Methods is a Level 2 course that introduces practitioners to a large number of P2 methods. This includes learning how to design specific methods, developing good question design, and having an opportunity to practice running some methods.

          The course is suitable for practitioners who are part of a team implementing a P2 process and are looking for the practical skills to be effective in designing and applying methods.

          Course objectives:

          1. Identify a range of methods that can be used for various engagement purposes and processes, and strategies to select the most appropriate method/s for an engagement project/process.

          2. Research, design and test a F2F and/or online method using a range of tools and resources.

          3. Apply the four steps of designing a method incorporating the eight key components of method design.

          4. Develop rational and experiential aims.

          5. Design an appropriate format.

          6. Design questions and process.

          7. Develop appropriate communications.

          8. Combine methods to achieve engagement goals and objectives and test for appropriate sequencing.

          9. Incorporate inclusion and diversity principles

          10. Identify data management needs, evaluation points and measures.

          11. Identify resources required.

          12. Explore a variety of both F2F and online methods/ techniques that are more structured and have nested methods within them (e.g., Deliberative Processes, Appreciative Inquiry and Open Space Technology).

          13. Analyze the specific requirements for online and digital methods, identify and select appropriate platforms and tools to meet needs and strategize to develop these methods for delivery.

          14. Identify principles for monitoring online activity.

          15. Test the design by running elements of the method and submitting to peer review using a checklist.

          16. Apply methods to achieve engagement goals and objectives, including using effective communication skills, and test for appropriate sequencing.

          17. Design key messages and communication tools that build trust and integrity, and meet the needs of diverse audiences.

            Professional Certification/Credits

            THIS COURSE

            #3 Applying Methods for Public Participation (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 20 CM) 

              June 20, 21, 22, 23, 2023       1 PM – 5 PM ET

              Members $550 -- Regular $650 

              Last day to Register June 16, 2023

              PLEASE NOTE: IAP2 USA members must be logged in to receive the member rate. International IAP2 members can contact info@iap2usa.org for a code to register. 

               — Cancellation and Substitution policy —

              **You must first complete Fundamentals of P2 before this course.

              Completion of IAP2 Foundations in P2: Planning For Effective Public Participation prior to 2023 also counts as a prerequisite for this course**

              PREREQUISITE COURSES

              #1 Fundamentals of Public Participation (2 - 4 hour sessions CM I 8 CM) 

                May 3-4, 2023        1 PM – 5 PM ET OR 

                Members $275 --  Regular $325

                #2 Designing & Leading Public Participation (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 16 CM) 

                  May 16-19, 2023       1 PM – 5 PM ET

                  Members $550 -- Regular $650

                  Certificate Program - All Three Modules (10 - 4 hour Sessions) 
                            Regular $1,625  Members $1,375 

                  ________________________________________________________________________

                  Trainers:

                  Craddock Stropes (she/her) is a facilitator, trainer and coach with more than 25 years of experience in the local government and non-profit sectors. Her work centers on connecting people with ideas to create inclusive, strategic and tangible solutions that make everyday lives better. She is chair of the IAP2 USA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, a member of the American Public Works Association national DEI Committee and is active in the International Network of Asian Public Administrators. She has presented learning sessions on inclusion, public engagement and crisis communications for Connect, California Association for Public Information Officers, Public Relations Society of America, American Public Works Association and Transforming Local Government conferences. She is currently a senior management analyst for the City of Carlsbad.

                  Doug Zenn has 30 years of experience in the communications field and has developed and managed community involvement, awareness, and education efforts around numerous issues including visioning, transportation, water resources, community-based planning and more. Doug has led ZennAssociates’ development of the innovative “Three-Dimensional Public Participation” model (3DP2) an approach that expands community access to project information and provides unique avenues for community input including the use of new technologies. Doug also serves on the executive committee for IAP2’s Cascade Chapter (Oregon and Southwest Washington) and is a certified trainer for IAP2’s public involvement foundations courses. Doug Zenn has 30 years of experience in the communications field and has developed and managed community involvement.




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                • Stakeholder "Mapping" -- Identifying and Analyzing Underrepresented Stakeholders

                  • June 28, 2023
                  • 12:00 PM - 4:30 PM (EDT)
                  • Online Via Zoom
                  • 17
                  Register

                  June 28, 2023

                  12:00 - 4:30 pm Eastern

                  This course introduces a powerful, transparent process to identify and analyze key stakeholders for any engagement project – a critical step in an ethical and equity-centered engagement design. After understanding the theory and purpose, participants use short cases to practice stakeholder mapping. They learn how to identify and analyze the full spectrum of stakeholders, with special emphasis on underrepresented stakeholders who need additional outreach/support to ensure inclusive engagement. For each case, the group learns how to “clean” and finalize the map, and then discusses implementation challenges and how to overcome them.

                  Learning outcomes:

                  • Challenge: Design and implement equity-centered engagement processes for increasingly diverse communities 
                  • Critical to success: Robust and comprehensive stakeholder identification and analysis (“stakeholder mapping”)
                  • Course combines theory, practice, instructions, templates
                  • Participants leave ready to conduct thorough, defensible stakeholder mapping that identifies underrepresented stakeholders, and use the results to plan and successfully implement inclusive engagement 

                    Outline:

                    • Introduction, overview, and grounding
                    • Stakeholder mapping 
                      • Framing 
                      • Process + Practice, Case 1 
                      • IAP2 context: Code of Ethics 
                      • Process + Practice, Case 2
                    •  Close: Reflections, evaluation 

                    Participants receive:

                    • Detailed stakeholder mapping instructions 
                    • Stakeholder mapping templates and examples 
                    • Complete course content and notetaking document
                    $200 Members  --  $275 Non Members  --  $125 Student Members. 

                    PLEASE NOTE: IAP2 USA members must be logged into iap2usa.org as a member to register at the member rate.

                    Members from other IAP2 regions need a code to register which can be obtained from info@iap2usa.org. 

                     — Cancellation and Substitution policy —

                    Trainer: Anne Carroll

                    Anne Carroll has been a consultant and trainer in public involvement and strategic planning for many years, serving primarily the public sector in both the USA and Canada. She focuses on designing and implementing ethical and equity-centered stakeholder engagement on important public issues, reaching out to and engaging diverse groups of people and perspectives, and tackling complex and multi-stakeholder environments. She served for 16 years as an elected member of the citywide St. Paul, Minnesota Board of Education, and serves as a board or committee member with IAP2 USA and the Minnesota Chapter, and the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership.
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                  • IAP2's Fundamentals of Public Participation

                    • June 29, 2023
                    • 1:00 PM (EDT)
                    • June 30, 2023
                    • 5:00 PM (EDT)
                    • Online with Trainer Cathy Smith
                    • 14
                    • 6 registrants
                    Register

                     Fundamentals of Public Participation

                    First course to be taken before Designing Public Participation and Applying Methods

                    The Fundamentals of Public Participation (P2) course is a prerequisite to other courses in the Global Learning Pathway that sets out the underpinning models and frameworks of engagement practice as defined by the IAP2 community.

                    The focus of this course is on understanding and applying the practices of meaningful and effective P2 and what participants need to know to do this well. The training explores best practices, and how to design and apply this knowledge to your P2.

                    Course objectives

                    By the end of this course participants will be able to:

                    • Define P2 and related terms and what makes it unique
                    • Identify what makes P2 meaningful, and reflect on the benefits, risks and myths related to P2
                    • Identify the role that values play in P2 work, and the leadership attributes that will serve them in practice 
                    • Reflect on and apply ethical leadership actions and abilities to P2 situations
                    • Apply the Profiles of P2 model to P2, and explore organization- and community-led engagement and how that impacts the engagement process
                    • Reflect on and apply the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and explore the roles and impacts of power and influence
                    • Apply the IAP2 Spectrum to P2 situations and practice
                    • Explore the Practice Framework as a tool for effective planning and process, and assess the quality of the process

                    Professional Certification/Credits

                    THIS COURSE

                    #1 Fundamentals of Public Participation (2 - 4 hour sessions CM I 8 CM) 

                      June 29-30, 2023      1 PM – 5 PM ET

                      Members $275 --  Regular $325

                      Last day to Register June 23, 2023

                       — Cancellation and Substitution policy —

                      **You must first complete this module before Designing Public Participation and Applying Methods**

                      ________________________________________________________________________

                      NEXT COURSE

                      #2 Designing Public Participation (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 18 CM) 

                        July 24-27, 2023 1 PM – 5 PM ET

                        Members $550 -- Regular $650 

                        Last day to Register July 20, 2023

                        Registration opens soon!

                        FINAL COURSE

                        #3 Applying Methods for Public Participation  (4 - 4 hour sessions CM I 18 CM) 

                          November 14-17       1 PM – 5 PM ET

                          Members $550 -- Regular $650 

                          Last day to Register November 10, 2023

                          Registration opens soon!

                          Certificate Program - All Three Modules (10 - 4 hour Sessions) 

                          Package (3 courses): The first course will be offered in-person on September 13 in Seattle, WA (Fundamentals). And then the program will continue virtually on September 26-29 (Designing Public Participation) and on October 10-13, 2023 (Applying Methods).

                                  Regular $1,625  Members $1,375 

                            Trainer: Cathy Smith