Printer-friendlyOur Statewide Town Hall Process
New Mexico First’s town halls are different than other town halls you may have attended. Ours last two or three days, and they are driven by consensus solutions. Ours are not events where people stand up, complain about a problem, and go home. Instead, we call on our participants to talk with each other, hear all sides of the issue, and develop practical, actionable solutions. The table below illustrates the process.
Step 1) Town Hall Topic Selection
Each year, New Mexico First members are polled and asked to indicate the topics of current interest and most importance to the state. In addition, staff and board members collect feedback from current policymakers and opinion leaders. The topics of most interest are reviewed by the Board of Directors, who make the final decision on the statewide town hall topic.
Step 2) Town Hall Background Research Paper
Once a topic has been selected for a Town Hall, one of New Mexico's six state universities prepares a Background Research Paper. The paper serves as a source of current, factual information on a topic. The paper is sent to the participants prior to the Town Hall and used by participants as a reference guide and learning tool prior to the Town Hall.
Step 3) Leadership Team
For each Town Hall, the New Mexico First staff selects a Leadership Team consisting of Discussion Leaders, Recorders, and Fellows. The Leadership Team undergoes an orientation and training process provided by New Mexico First. At the Town Hall this Leadership Team will facilitate the panel groups of participants.
Step 4) Participant Registration
Citizens representing all geographic locations, backgrounds, and viewpoints sign up to participate at a New Mexico First Town Hall. A person does not need to be an expert on a Town Hall topic to participate. All that is required is a completed registration form, payment of the registration fee, and a commitment to a three-day discussion, debate and consensus building process. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available.
Step 5) Small Group Discussions
At the Town Hall, participants are divided into small groups for discussion for two days. A discussion leader and a recorder facilitate each group. As each group comes to consensus each day, a Master Recorder synthesizes and aggregates each group’s work and create a comprehensive list of draft consensus recommendations.
Step 6) Plenary Sessions
A Plenary Chair, who oversees the large group consensus process and ensures that every group is heard, conducts the Plenary Sessions. At the Plenary Sessions, all the town tall participants come together to discuss, debate, and amend the draft consensus document. Once everyone has come to final consensus on all issues and recommendations, they are finalized. The final recommendations are bound with the background research paper and made available to the public in a published final report.
Step 7) Implementation
An Implementation Team comprised of the participants of the town tall takes the issues, recommendations, and voice of the town hall to the state’s citizens. The Implementation Team gives presentations to community leaders, advises policy-makers, and informs their communities of the message of the town hall with the goal of effecting positive change in our state.