Common Focus Can Help:
Our Services
Solutions For Communities
Common Focus, using processes like
the Study Circles, works with communities, local governments and
authorities, and neighborhood groups to solve problems, to resolve
conflicts, to create plans, and to develop community support for
change. As a senior associate with the Study Circle Resource Center, Jon
Abercrombie has additional connections to tools and resources
for community dialogue and change.
City and County Envisioning and Planning Retreats, Neighborhood
Conflict Resolution, and School and University Dialogues
City and County Envisioning
The City of Decatur (GA) . . . used Common
Focus to design and lead conversations that have led to
community change. Common Focus led the Round
Tables that involved more than 400 people in a process that
initiated a city-wide ten-year planning process. 
Hall and Forsyth County . . . used a partnership of Common
Focus and Civic
Strategies
to lead county wide visioning sessions. In the two counties more
almost 2,000 people participated in one of 20 sessions. Local Chambers
of Commerce and elected and civic leaders used the session to create
long range visions for the future of their cities and counties.
Small towns in Montana . . . used Jon and Study
Circles to train organizers and facilitators for organizing
meetings to decide how to face their economic challenges
create ways to have thriving places to live.
City Planning Retreats
A City of Over 60,000 . . . uses Common Focus for
their annual planning retreats. These overnight retreats allow
Council members to deal in depth with issues and future plans in
an atmosphere that is less stressful.
 A
County Board of Commissioners . . . uses Common
Focus several times a year for day-long work retreats. Having
a neutral facilitator who can structure the conversation and keep
the conversation moving toward decision-making takes the pressure
off the presiding officer and the staff.
Neighborhood Conflict Resolution
Urban Neighborhood Groups . . . faced controversial decisions on dense  development
and on closing roads to traffic in their neighborhoods. Common
Focus created a format for the large and emotionally-charged groups to
meet for a productive conversation that allowed them to make decisions without
destroying their relationships.
School and University Dialogues
 A
Local School Board . . . and the Georgia School Board Association used Common
Focus and Study Circles to better listen to their community. A day-long
series of sessions in the first year of the project led to a meeting of the
School Board, City Council and County elected officials who identified ways
to work more cooperatively.
A Local University . . . engaged Common Focus to
develop conversations among students, staff and faculty after a highly publicized
racial incident. Multiple sessions led to actions steps to create a school where
students were honored and heard no matter their race or their backgrounds.
Some Recipients Of Common Focus' Services:
For a more complete list, contact Common
Focus.
- City of Marietta, GA
- Georgia School Board Association
- DeKalb County Commission (GA)
- City of Fort Valley, GA
- Regional Water Board
- The Metro Atlanta Mayor's Forum
- Civic Strategies, Inc. and The Augusta Chamber of Commerce
- Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Housing Seminar
- City of Fayetteville, NC (Study Circles)
- City of Decatur, GA
- St. Joe, FL
- City of Pensacola, FL (Study Circles)
- Peachtree City, GA (Study Circles)
- York, SC Youth Study Circles
- Gainesville/Hall County, GA
- Cumming/Forsyth County, GA
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