Improving Citizen Participation and Feedback in Your Bagh: AManual on Town Halls
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discussions of the town hall meetings and panelists
beforehand to establish expectations about the event
4. Utilize various forms of promotion (e.g. word of
mouth, media, flyers) to announce the event to the
community; Invite where appropriate multiple media
representatives (e.g. T.V., radio, newspapers) to cover
the event
5. Prepare the necessary documents for distribution at
the meeting (e.g. agenda, evaluation forms, contact
information for the host organization and the elected
officials)
The success of your town hall will be dependent on a va-
riety of factors, but organization and planning will make the
process more smooth and position your town hall for suc-
cess.
Identify the objectives of the meeting
A well-planned town hall meeting begins with a clear
purpose. The tone, format and activities will depend upon
the goal of the meeting. No two town hall meetings are
alike. Town hall meetings that seek to listen to citizens re-
quire that government officials first present their position or
proposed policy/program and seek feedback whereas gov-
ernment officials intending to discuss a specific issue will
be more participatory. Meetings that intend government and
citizens to collaborate on a decision-making process require
deeper discussion, prioritization and evaluation of potential
solutions/outcomes.
Timing and location are critical
Finding the appropriate location is an important step in
the planning process and should be determined as early as
possible. In addition to the ease of access, location can set
the tone for the town hall meeting. Politically neutral build-
