The first session SCS led at the APA Texas 2019 annual conference in Waco was an interactive workshop giving participants skills and experience in managing public engagement when people with extreme and opposing views are involved.  Karen Walz presented a structure for designing public input initiatives so that people with diverse views can be heard, community direction can be determined, and broad-based public processes can avoid being hijacked by small groups of vocal individuals.

A hypothetical redevelopment proposal in the city of Cedarville provided an opportunity for participants to role-play key stakeholders and for the Cedarville City Council member to develop a position on the rezoning request.  Debriefing of the exercise allowed each team to share its decision and its process with the others.  Lots of laughter accompanied practical lessons in public engagement!