Regional Listening Tour
The regional Listening Tours provide a platform for statewide foundations to learn more about the broad challenges and issues facing rural Colorado communities. In 2012, a group of RPD® funders, identified the desire to better understand each region’s overarching needs and the actions underway to address these challenges prior to the RPD® conferences. The Listening Tour delegation meets with high-level community leaders in candid discussions about the character of the region, existing needs, community priorities and current collaborative initiatives to address such issues.
Three primary questions were asked:
How would you describe the personality and culture of your community?
What do you see as a key issue or need in your community?
What successful efforts are currently underway to address these issues?
Using the information provided by community attendees during a Listening Tour, CRC staff distribute a summary report of regional characteristics and cross-cutting needs. With the addition of the Listening Tour, grantmakers arrive at RPD better prepared to collaborate and support local endeavors.
Explore the results of past regional Listening Tours by downloading the regional reports below.
Community Dialogues
A gathering of executive directors, topic experts, funders, and state and local government officials convene to discuss opportunities for regional success through collaborative dialogue at each RPD® conference. Representatives from approximately 20 Colorado foundations join to de-brief on the results of the regional Listening Tour and discuss the topic that most resonates with their funding priorities and interests. Session participants identify potential resources, regional successes and challenges, and learn from their local counterparts as well as statewide experts and stakeholders. These sessions explore vital regional partnerships and potential collaborative solutions, while strengthening relationships and encouraging dialogue across sectors and communities.
