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<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Thematic Workshop:</strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>
Local Communities as Agents of Change: The Significance of Participation in Governance &amp; Planning
28<sup>th</sup> March 2007
</strong>Hosted by NIRSA, NUI Maynooth in association with Southside Partnership &amp; Meath CDB</span></strong></p>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The second thematic event to be jointly hosted by NIRSA, NUI Maynooth, Southside Partnership and Meath CDB took place on Wednesday, 28<sup>th</sup> March 2007.&nbsp; Entitled, <em>Local Communities as Agents of Change: The Significance of Participation in Governance and Planning</em>, this 1-day workshop was attended by approx 25 people representing SPAN partners, local government agencies, locally elected representatives, and local development agencies.
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As a follow-on to the November 2006 event, <em>New Opportunities for Active Citizenship through Multi-level Governance and Strategic Territorial Planning</em> (click <span style="text-decoration: underline;">here</span> for further details), this second workshop addressed some of the issues and challenges raised at the initial workshop, held on 29<sup>th</sup> November 2006, and proposed new ways of engagement for communities, thus maximising the impact of their involvement.&nbsp; It was practical in its focus and, through case studies and action learning, this 1-day event considered:</span>
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 	<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">how communities can best engage with decision-makers and the planning process so that their concerns and viewpoints are taken into account,</span></li>
 	<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">the various approaches to citizen participation and the strengths and weaknesses of each, and</span></li>
 	<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">how best to engage with the more disadvantaged communities so that they actively participate in planning and governance matters.
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Programme:
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Session 1: Public Participation Strategies – Prof. Simin Davoudi
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Public Participation: Case studies from Newcastle &amp; Birmingham – Prof. Ali Madanipour
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Session 2: Opportunities &amp; Challenges from Planners Perspective – Richard </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cremins
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Opportunities &amp; Challenges from Councillor’s Perspective – Cllr. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Niamh Bhreathnach
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Opportunities &amp; Challenges from NGO Sector – Mary Cullen</span>