RSVP: Reimagining public engagement in a changing world
The Public Engagement in Health Policy Project team invites you to participate in the upcoming event, Reimagining Public Engagement in a Changing World.
Over the past year, our project has sought to understand Canada’s history of engaging the public in health policy, identifying gaps and opportunities for more transformative engagement. Our research has highlighted the ways in which forms of engagement can enable or disadvantage different groups and communities. This event seeks to both promote new approaches and refine existing approaches to address longstanding issues with public engagement in health policy. How can policymakers engage citizens in ways that are equitable, effective, and empowering? Which individuals or groups are not well-served by the status quo in health policy engagement? Can we co-create practical resources to help groups navigate public engagement more effectively?
Date: September 22, 2022.
Time: 9am - 12:15pm, 1pm - 4pm (lunch 12:15-1pm)
Location: McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West Hamilton, L8S 4L8.
There is an option to participate in the morning session virtually, view a recording later, or attend in person. The afternoon sessions will be in-person only.
In the morning, we are pleased to welcome Keynote Speaker Dr. Jamila Michener. This will be followed by a panel, Rethinking Public Engagement: Representation, Inclusion, and Legitimacy, with presentations by Alpha Abebe and Rhonda C. George, Joanna Massie, and Genevieve Fuji Johnson. Following lunch, participants will be invited to take part in workshop sessions to further our collective understanding of engagement in health policy and help develop resources that may aid engagement.
We value your input on how to make the event productive for you and other participants. Building on the core project activities, we have identified three activities for the afternoon workshop:
informing a course in public engagement in health;
informing a resource guide for practitioners and participants about public engagement in health; and
participating in a focus group about your engagement experiences.
We welcome input about your interest in these activities, as well as suggestions for other topics or activities.
We will provide N95 (or equivalent quality) masks, and strongly encourage all participants to wear masks during the workshop, in recognition that some attendees may be immunocompromised, or care for others who are immunocompromised. An email will be sent in September outlining the latest university and workshop policy.
We also welcome suggestions for names of individuals or organizations who would benefit from or contribute to the event. In particular, we welcome participants who are not well served by current engagement activities. Please briefly describe their role (if applicable) and provide an email address if available. Contact information provided will only be used to invite them to this workshop, unless they express interest in receiving future project updates. We hope to create a space where community-based organizations, engagement practitioners, and researchers can make connections and help define what public engagement should look like in the future.
Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided, which includes vegetarian, gluten-free and halal options. If you have specific dietary requirements, please contact us at publicengagement@mcmaster.ca.
Parking passes will be provided, and you can claim reimbursement for travel expenses and care for dependents. At the workshop, you may also opt in to an $150 honorarium, which we are pleased to offer in recognition of your time and expertise. If you require other financial supports to participate or wish to access prepayment for expenses, please briefly describe your needs when you register, and a team member will follow up.