Roles for Museums in Civic Engagement & Policymaking
Science centers and museums can facilitate and support authentic, equitable, and solutions-focused Civic Engagement & Policymaking through a variety of roles. Each role presents a unique way to connect with your community and drive positive change. You may play different roles at different times in your civic engagement work or combine multiple roles to achieve your goals.
Fostering Civic Action
Educate, encourage, and support your local community in taking meaningful action. This role involves communicating the connections between science and civic action, uplifting activities already happening in your community, using your physical space to increase accessibility to civic participation, and/or designing and facilitating opportunities for community members to discuss and deliberate on important topics.
Generating Data for Civic Progress
Produce, interpret, visualize, and/or share data to inform decision making. This role involves contributing to civic progress by sharing technical knowledge and equipment, collaboratively identifying effective research questions, storing data, and/or effectively sharing data that can inform evidence-based decision-making and policy development.
Contributing to Coalitions
Forge connections for action. This role is about understanding the power of collective action; finding, supporting, and joining coalitions; bringing together diverse organizations to create a unified voice; and/or sharing power to build and maintain resilient working relationships.
Building Momentum and Refining Strategies
Connect community members and decision makers and strengthen strategies for lasting impact. This role is about facilitating connections with decision makers and directly advocating for community priorities, amplifying community voices, and evaluating and improving your civic engagement work.