Community Action Guide

Could public life in the Gunnison Valley be better?

Your ideas and passion can change our community for the greater good.

There are a lot of places in this country where it feels like the problems are too big for any one person to be able to make a difference. Fortunately, our work at CFGV with local nonprofits and the generous people who suppport them has made it clear that the Gunnison Valley is not one of those places. There are countless examples of individuals identifying a challenge or opportunity, building a team, and working for changes that make community members’ lives better in tangible ways.

Your Voice Is Part of the Solution

Whether your family has been here for many, many generations or has just arrived; whether you are a person of wealth or not; whether you are young or older; whether you’ve had lots of education or not; whatever your cultural background… you are important. Do you have an idea of how public life could be better? If people with such ideas don’t get involved, we stand to lose the “pursuit of happiness” and “liberty and justice for all.” We need you, whoever you are! We’ll call your participation, “civic engagement.”

Real Life Example

photo of living room with large sectional sofa, landscape photo and tv on walls

Gunnison Sanctuary Housing

Through volunteering with the GRASP Consortium, Mary Beth Kelley learned of the need for sober living homes in Gunnison County and founded Gunnison Sanctuary Housing (GSH). Just a few years later, GSH has two sober living homes in Gunnison that support people working through recovery.

collection of logos including: Gunnison County, town of Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte, CFGV, City of Gunnison, Vail Resorts EpicPromise

Real Life Example

The Community Action Guide

The Community Action Guide was born from an opportunity identified in the One Valley Resiliency Roadmap: we could, and should, do more as a community to ensure we had more productive and inclusive meetings and processes. Because CFGV often connects people to needed resources in the community and our independence as a public 501(c)3 nonprofit, we decided to take the lead on pulling this resource together. Many people had input on this project in hopes that leaders, thinkers, and caring community members find a way to bring their ideas to action. We’re grateful to Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Vail Resorts EpicPromise for providing funding to help bring this resource to life.

What is civic engagement?

“Civic engagement” can refer to participating in your government or participating in the nearly 100 nonprofits here in the Gunnison Valley. You can be involved in many ways:

attend and speak at public meetings
serve on a board or public commission
run for elected office or work for a candidate
organize and advocate for a cause you care about .

This video has a nice overview of civic engagement. (If you click through to watch it on YouTube, a transcript is available for accessibility.)

Simple steps for change

Steps for Community Action: Step 1 Ask Questions; Step 2 Find Leadership Style; Step 3 Build a Plan; Step 4 Take Action.

Getting Started

Step 1: Ask Yourself Two Questions:

Question 1:

Can you see an opportunity to make our community better for you, your family, or everyone? Are you willing to work for that change?

Question 2:

Are you willing to work with other people to get things done?

If your answer is “yes” to both questions, read on!

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What leadership style feels most comfortable for you?

Step 2: Determine Your Leadership Style

If you want to change something, it works best if you involve four types of people. Each is probably really good at some things, maybe not so good or impatient with other things. Together, collaboration and teamwork between these different types of people can make change.

Before working with others, it’s helpful to determine your leadership style. Depending on what type of leader you are (and yes! whoever you are, you can be a leader!) there’s different information that may be especially useful or may especially resonate with who you are.

There is no single way to be a leader. Some people use data to build a strong case for something and win people over to their side. Others nurture lots of connections with community members and can build a coalition. Others are great at identifying a strategy and a process to hit their goals. Others can give a speech that makes the listeners feel like they’re fighting for something bigger than themselves.

Read the descriptions of leadership types below. Think about who you are and how you’ve helped work for change in the past. Do you “fit” into one of the leadership types? A lot of people have traits of a few different types of leaders, but you’ll usually find that one feels more natural or comfortable. If you’re not sure, think about a time when you have successfully worked for change. How did you do it? Which description best describes how you did the work? That’s probably your type.

You’ll find a name for your leadership type and a very brief description. The name of your leadership type will help you sort through our resource library below to find which tools will be most useful to build the change you want to see in our community.

You’re a big picture thinker who likes to get things done yesterday.

Driver

We’ll call you a “Driver.” You see how pieces fit together. You’re good at leading a group to get to a goal. You can find resources that might be especially useful for you by clicking on “Driver” in the categories column below.

Meet Driver, Lauren Koelliker

Te presentamos a Conductora, Lauren Koelliker

You love to gather facts and stories to make a powerful case.

Architect / Analyst

We’ll call you an “Architect / Analyst.” Your superpower is collecting data and using it to make a strong case for something you believe in. You can find resources that are especially useful for your leadership type by clicking on “Architects and Analysts” in the categories column below.

Meet Architect/Analyst, Cole Cooper

Te presentamos a Arquitecto/Analista, Cole Cooper

You’re a team player who knows and cares for lots of people.

Relationship Master

We’ll call you a “Relationship Master.” Your friends and people in your community trust you and know they can count on you to show up for them. You’re the central hub for your social network. You can find resources that are especially useful for your leadership type by clicking on “Relationship Masters” in the categories column below.

Meet Relationship Master, Cinthia Saenz

Te presentamos a Maestra en Relaciones, Cinthia Saenz

Community member, David Weins, smiles in the sun with short spiky hair wearing a brown fuzzy vest and plaid shirt; he's an example of a spontaneous motivator.

You’re a person who can motivate others.

Spontaneous Motivator

We’ll call you a “Spontaneous Motivator.” Your charisma is irresistible and you know how to give a speech that will get people cheering. You can find resources that are especially useful for your leadership type by clicking on “Spontaneous Motivators” in the categories column below.

Meet Spontaneous Motivator, Dave Wiens

Te presentamos a Motivador Espontáneo, Dave Wiens

Once you know your leadership style, move to step 3!

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Gather Tools and Build a Plan

Step 3: Browse the Civic Resource Library

You’ll find useful resources in the library below as you set out to be an advocate for your community. They can be sorted based on different “categories” based on your preferred leadership style. Some of them will be useful no matter what kind of leader you are. Those are marked as “For All Leaders” in the categories column. Those are a good place to start.

Instructions

Choose from one of the categories or browse through the entire library on this page. Click a title to see information about that document or link, click a category name (in the dropdown menu or that column) to sort by that category, click the access button to access a document or go to a link, or click the magnifying glass for a document preview. All links to documents or outside URLs open a new window.

Title	Summary	Categories	Link	hf:doc_categories
“How to Connect with People” from “The Life Formula”	It can sometimes be difficult to connect with people. This video from The Life Formula has tips about how to use active listening and other techniques to connect with new …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters
“How to Disagree Productively and Find Common Ground” TED Talk	This TED Talk is from Julia Dhar, a behavioral economist and world debate champion. She shares what she has learned from research and personal experience about how to disagree in a productive way and find common …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters
“How to Have Constructive Conversations” TED Talk	As the divides seem to grow deeper, the art, and science, of having a constructive, tough conversation is one we seem to be losing. This TED talk from Julia Dhar offers a framework for how to successfully have constructive conversations grounded in …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters
“How to Start a Movement” TED Talk	This very funny TED Talk from Derek Sivers goes over the key factors to launching a movement in just under three minutes. You will probably learn something and you will definitely chuckle if you give it a …	Civic Engagement, Spontaneous Motivators	Access	civic-engagement motivators
“Planning an Advocacy Campaign”	This practical, short guide from Bonterra offers concrete steps to planning an advocacy …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
“Telling Stories with Data” TED Talk	This 15-minute TED talk from Daniel Posmik gives tips for how to effectively tell stories with data. Data makes stories more meaningful, and building a story around data makes that data more meaningful, …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
2022 State of the Community Report	Since its founding as part of the One Valley Prosperity Project, CFGV has been a member of the Gunnison County Community Health Coalition (CHC). Formed to address the major challenges our community faces with regards to community health and equity, we have been working with other key community partners (including representatives from the County Department of Health and Human Services, the GVH Foundation, Juvenile Services, Adult Protective Services, and Gunnison Valley Family Physicians) to improve collaboration in addressing basic needs for community members. In 2022, the CHC released the State of the Community Report that examined behavioral health and community challenges. The findings were quite alarming and have helped inform community investments made in behavioral health and other …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement, Community Resources, Nonprofit Resources	Access	architects civic-engagement community-resources nonprofit-resources
8 Essential Skills of an Effective Facilitator	Workshopper offers this guide called “8 Essential Skills of an Effective Facilitator (and How to Improve Them!).” This very clear, usable short article includes a couple of embedded videos from …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters
About America’s Nonprofits	Nonprofits are one leg of the “three-legged stool” that supports our society in the United States of America. This article gives an overview of why nonprofits …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Board Training: Fiduciary and Financial Responsibilities with Kelly Sudderth	Community Foundation Gunnison Valley’s YouTube Channel with board resources.	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders, Nonprofit Media	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders nonprofit-media nonprofit-resources
Board Training: Maryo’s Six A’s of Being a Great Board Member	Community Foundation Gunnison Valley’s YouTube Channel with board resources.	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders, Nonprofit Media	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders nonprofit-media nonprofit-resources
Book: Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World	Science professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West “give us the tools to dismantle misinformation and think clearly in a world of fake news and bad …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
Book: CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest	This book from Carolyn Dewar et al will help you understand how the best leaders think and approach …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Book: Democracy in America	If you’re the kind of person who likes the truly big picture perspective, this book was published in the 1830’s, looking at how democracy in the United States is unique, and also sets the scene for the proliferation of …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Book: Factfulness: ten reasons we’re wrong about the world – and why things are better than you think	Sometimes it seems like “progress” is glacial and you want to give up. Melinda Gates says: “It … explains why progress is so often secret and silent and teaches readers how to see it …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Book: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference	Sometimes change starts in small ways years before it ever becomes a generally accepted reality. In The Tipping Point, learn how you can lay foundations for change with a long …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Book: Understanding Local Government	This is a clear, succinct book for people interested in unnderstanding how local government works. This book focuses on the basic characteristics shared by local …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Book: What’s our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies	This book by Tim Urban offers a new way of approaching complex …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Cinthia Saenz Relationship Master	Meet Cinthia Saenz, real-life relationship master and community leader. Cinthia has long been an advocate in the Gunnison community. Click download to learn how she has had an impact on the Gunnison …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters
City of Gunnison Budget	The City of Gunnison undergoes a public budgeting process every year. You can find current and past budgets on the City’s Finance Department …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
City of Gunnison General Information	A lot of your general questions about the city of Gunnison may be answered on the city’s website. If you can’t find the answer to your question, they offer a form to ask a question. If you prefer to talk to someone at the city, you can call the main phone number at …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
City of Gunnison Meeting Schedules and Documents	The Gunnison City Council meets at 5:30 P.M. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in the council chambers of City Hall. Meeting agendas and minutes from past meetings are available on their website. If you would like to appear on an agenda, please contact the City Clerk at …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
City of Gunnison Offices and Departments	The City of Gunnison has a number of departments. Each is in charge of a different aspect of city government and/or services. You can find a list, a description of what each one does, and their phone numbers on the city’s website. Click the download button go to that …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Cole Cooper Architect Analyst	Meet Cole Cooper, real-life architect/analyst and community leader. Cole is a researcher who uses data to bring about change in the …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
Community Housing Report	Examine the housing challenges our community is facing and establish shared understanding as a baseline from which local municipalities, nonprofits, and other community-based organizations can work toward solutions.	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement, Community Resources	Access	architects civic-engagement community-resources
Community Organizing 101	This article from Brightest offers a framework for getting started as a community organizer. Community organizing is a tool with a proven track record of success in building unity and solidarity around a cause then activating that group to work together and bring about …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Constitution of the United States	There are federal laws and policies; there are state laws and policies; and there are local ordinances and policies. This Civic Engagement Toolkit primarily discusses Government County but it’s important to understand the ultimate framework within which government …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Dave Wiens Spontaneous Motivator	Meet Dave Wiens, real-life spontaneous motivator and community leader. Dave has decades of involvement in trail work and recreation advocacy under his belt and it’s all built on his ability to bridge divides and motivate people to work together. Click download to learn his secret to getting things …	Civic Engagement, Spontaneous Motivators	Access	civic-engagement motivators
Eight Ground Rules for Great Meetings	Effective meetings require a common understanding of a set of ground rules. This article from Roger Schwarz & Associates offers not only important ground rules, but also advice for how to inplement the ground rules in a way that will be effective for your …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters
Eight Tips for Finding People to Sign Your Petition	This practical, short guide from Move On has tips for finding people to sign your …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Gunnison County Budget	Reviewing an organization’s budget is a great way to learn a lot about their priorities. Every year, Gunnison County goes through a public budgeting process in the fall including a public work session and a public …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
Gunnison County Commissioners: Meeting Schedule and Other Info	Ultimately, decisions in Gunnison County are made by the three people on the Board of County Commissioners. These people are elected by voters in Gunnison County. Each month they typically have 2 regular meetings at which they vote,with work sessions between. Sessions begin at 8:30 on Tuesdays and may last all day. If you go here you can learn a bit about the Commissioners, find their emails and phone numbers, find a calendar of their meetings so that you can attend, find agendas, and find records and recordings of past meetings. The public is always welcome to attend meetings except when the officials are discussing personnel or other sensitive matters. Typically there’s a designated time on the agenda for public input, and there is likely to be a formal time limit. If websites don’t describe how to get on the agenda, contact the County clerk. Elected officials address laws, ordinances and policies. It may be that your concern can be best addressed by a specific office or department, so we suggest you start …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Gunnison County Commissions	There are many advisory groups to the Gunnison County Commissioners, called “commissions.” What are these commissions, how do you get appointed to them, who is on them and when do their terms end? You may have a special interest or expertise and might want to start your engagement via one of these. Members of Commissions are appointed, not elected. Vacancies are advertised in the newspapers and on the …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Gunnison County Election Calendar	Consult the Gunnison County Elections office to learn how to register to vote, how to vote, and what upcoming elections …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Gunnison County Org Chart	If you’ve ever wondered how your local government is organized for Gunnison County, we recommend you check out the Gunnison County Org Chart. It’s a clear and simplified chart that shows the different departments in county government, who reports to whom, and which positions are elected. Next, if you look here, you can click on the departments and find out what they do and their individual phone …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Gunnison County State of the Community 2025	In late 2024 and early 2025, CFGV worked with Triple Point Strategic Consulting and Gunnison County Juvenile Services to produce an update to the original 2022 State of the Community Report. Narrowing the focus to fewer metrics allowed the team to reexamine some key findings of the original report and gauge our community’s progress. Like with the 2022 version, this updated report gives us areas of focus that can guide community investment over the next few years. Thank you to Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Vail Resorts EPICPromise for supporting this important …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement, Community Resources, Nonprofit Resources	Access	architects civic-engagement community-resources nonprofit-resources
Gunnison County Taxing Authorities	There are 46 taxing authorities in Gunnison County like Gunnison Watershed School District, the Gunnison County Libraries, MetRec, Gunnison Valley Health, the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District, fire protection districts, the cemetery district and many more. They are supported at least in part by taxes or other public funds. Some – like the school district – are governed by people who are elected. Some – like the hospital – are governed by boards appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Some – like the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District – are governed by individuals appointed by the Gunnison District Judge of the 7th Judicial District. The download button on this page will take you to a complete list of 46 taxing authorities. Gunnison County is very large, and includes places like Pitkin, Somerset and Marble which aren’t incorporated municipalities but are able to receive some tax money. If any of the listed entities is of interest, locate their website or contact the Gunnison County Assessor’s Office to learn how to contact …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Gunnison Police Department Calls for Service Report	Each month the Gunnison Police Department posts a report offering a one-page summary in English and Spanish that includes the number and types of calls the department …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Gunnison Valley Basic Needs Resource Guide	The Basic Needs Guide may be helpful if you are trying to make ends meet, an immigrant, a senior, a parent, a veteran, or just want to learn more about the myriad of resources available in the Gunnison Valley.	Civic Engagement, Community Resources, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement community-resources for-all-leaders
Gunnison Valley Nonprofit Directory	The Gunnison Valley is currently home to nearly 100 local and regional nonprofits. Each organization has a unique role to play in the tapestry of our community. You can sort the list by category and find addresses, websites, email addresses, and phone numbers for the different …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders, Nonprofit Resources	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders nonprofit-resources
How to Encourage Your Teammates to Speak Up More Often	In this article by Gustavo Razzetti, you’ll learn concrete steps for helping create a culture of safety in your workplace or among your group so your teammates feel comfortable speaking …	Civic Engagement, Spontaneous Motivators	Access	civic-engagement motivators
How to Get on a Nonprofit Board	Joining a board can be a great way to serve the community and give back, but it also comes with significant responsibilities. This article from OnBoard Meetings walks you through the steps to join a nonprofit …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
How to Improve your Cross-Cultural Team’s Communication	This video from Lead with Words offers tips on how to improve communications among a team with people from different cultures. While most examples are from business, the advice is relevant to …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters
How to Plan a Kickoff Meeting	This article from Brightest offers a sample agenda and best practices for hosting a kickoff meeting to advocate for a …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters
How to Start a Petition: The Ultimate Guide	A petition is a tool that has been used by people seeking change in their communities for decades, or maybe even centuries. The internet makes it even easier to secure support for petitions. Change.org has become a popular tool for people to publicize and secure signatures from people for their petitions and they’ve developed this ultimate guide for starting a …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Influencing Policy Development	This resource from the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas offers a detailed guide for how to develop a plan to influence policy development and …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Lauren Koelliker Driver	Meet Lauren Koelliker, real-life driver and community leader. Lauren has worked in a variety of roles in the community, including as a teacher, an elected official, and an nonprofit executive director. Across all of these roles, she has consistently shown a capacity to set goals, develop plans, and execute on those plans to achieve those …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Local Government Strategic Plans	Gunnison County and each of our local municipalities have strategic plans. Most other big entities, such as Gunnison Valley Health, the Gunnison County Library District, MetRec, the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley, etc., have plans which are often available on their websites. Find out how the change you seek may or may not be addressed in current strategic plans so you have a context for your work. Here is a list of current strategic plans for Gunnison County and the three municipalities in the Gunnison Valley: Gunnison County Strategic Plan, adopted 2024 City of Gunnison Strategic Framework, adopted 2024 Town of Crested Butte “Community Compass,” adopted 2022 Town of Mt. Crested Butte Strategic Plan, adopted …	Civic Engagement, Drivers	Access	civic-engagement drivers
Running for Office in the State of Colorado	There are basic requirements and rules involved in running for federal, state, county, or municipal office. The Colorado Secretary of State’s website offers a hub of information for people interested in running for political offices at all levels of …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement, Drivers, For All Leaders, Relationship Masters, Spontaneous Motivators	Access	architects civic-engagement drivers for-all-leaders relationship-masters motivators
Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado	The Self-Sufficiency Standard is a project of the Center for Women’s Welfare at University of Washington. This “budget-based, living wage measure” calculates the actual cost of living for many different types of families and you can look at it by …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
Ten Things to Know About How to Influence Policy with Research	This practical, and brief, guide from Integration and Implementation Insights offers tips (and some points of caution) for how to influence public policy with research and data. It includes advice on networking, adapting to opportunities, and other important information, especially for academics who want to influence policy …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
The Psychology of Voting: What Motivates People to Vote	In this article from GoodParty.org, McKayla Girardin gives an overview of what motivates voters to show up to the …	Civic Engagement, Spontaneous Motivators	Access	civic-engagement motivators
The Voice of the Public	In this article by Thomas Miller and Michelle Kobayashi from International City/County Management Association (ICMA), you will learn “why surveys are valuable for finding out what residents want and need.” It offers guidance for designing a credible survey and ensuring you get worthwhile results so you actually understand what is important to people in your …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
Three Effective Ways to Use Storytelling for Public Affairs	The Public Affairs Council published this brief article with tips on how to use storytelling to effectively communicate policy …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
Tips for Civic Engagement: How to Write a Letter to the Editor	A letter to the editor can be a great way to advocate for your cause or motivate people who share your beliefs to join you. This article from goodparty.org offers tips for writing an effective letter to the …	Civic Engagement, Spontaneous Motivators	Access	civic-engagement motivators
Tips for Newly Elected City Government Officials	Congratulations on being elected or appointed to a board, commission, or council! Now, what can you expect? GovPilot shared this article with tips and advice for what to expect in your new …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Town of Crested Butte Budget	The Town of Crested Butte goes through a public budgeting process every year. You can find information about the budget on the town’s …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
Town of Crested Butte Meeting Schedule and Documents	The Crested Butte Town Council meets at 7 P.M. on the first and third Mondays of each month. Each meeting opens with a public comment period for members of the public to speak with the council about any topic that is not on the agenda for that meeting. You can find Council Packets and the Minutes for their meetings on their …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Town of Crested Butte Website	To get involved with local government in Crested Butte, you need to know what its offices are, who makes decisions, and what the decision-making process is so that you can craft the right approach. It’s smart to attend town council meetings to get a “feel” for the process even if the meetings aren’t about something you are interested in. The public is welcome except for meetings about personnel or other sensitive issues. The town’s website is comprehensive and transparent. Spending time on the website is the first important place to …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Town of Mt. Crested Butte Budget Process	The Town of Mt. Crested Butte goes through an annual budgeting process in the …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
Town of Mt. Crested Butte Meeting Schedule and Documents	The Mt. Crested Butte Town Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 P.M. You can find Agendas, Minutes, and Meeting Packets as well as links to recordings of the meetings on the town’s …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
US Census	You can access census data from 2022 at census.gov. The links below are for Gunnison County: Social Characteristics Economic Characteristics Housing Characteristics Demographic …	Architects and Analysts, Civic Engagement	Access	architects civic-engagement
What is Civic Engagement Video	“Civic engagement” can refer to participating in your government or participating in the nearly 100 nonprofits here. You can be involved in many ways: attend and speak at public meetings serve on a board or public commission run for elected office or work for a candidate organize and advocate for a cause you care about This two-minute video gives a great overview of what civic engagement is and why anyone can, and should, get more engaged with their …	Civic Engagement, For All Leaders	Access	civic-engagement for-all-leaders
Your Social Media Strategy	In this article, Chris Hsiung writes for ICMA about how social media can, and should, be used as a communication …	Civic Engagement, Relationship Masters	Access	civic-engagement relationship-masters

Did your customized civic resources help build your plan? If yes, move on to step 4!

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Are you stuck? Contact CFGV for help or additional resources.

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Set Your Plan in Motion

Step 4: Time for Action!

To make a change, you usually need two things: a plan and a team. We hope the resources in the library have helped you sketch out a plan. Now it’s time to put together your team. Remember that the most effective teams are usually made up of a combination of all of the leadership types.

Actions You Can Take to Get Started

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Attend a public meeting: Look up the next meeting for your town, city, property owners’ assocation, or Gunnison County and plan to attend (find links to many of the websites in the Resource Library above). Even if you don’t speak up or ask a question, it’s a good way to get familiar with what your representatives are discussing.

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Volunteer: Did you know there are at least 79 local and regional nonprofits operating in Gunnison County? Many of them offer different ways to volunteer. Check out CFGV’s nonprofit directory for a full list of organizations that you can sort by type of nonprofit to find one that you’re interested in working with.

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Vote: If you’re an eligible, registered voter, remember to vote in every election, even “off years.” For more information on voter eligibility and elections, head to the Colorado Secretary of State’s website.

Did you use this Community Action Guide to change something in our community?

We want to hear your story.

We want the Community Action Guide to be a useful tool for the community. We would appreciate your feedback. Is the guide easy to use? What did you find useful? Do you have ideas about how we can make the guide better? Please fill in the form below with your thoughts. Thank you!

Simplified Summary

Do you think life could be better in the Gunnison Valley? Your ideas could change our community for the better!

There are a lot of places where it feels like one person can’t make a difference. We have seen an individual or group of people can make things better here. Gunnison Sanctuary Housing is an example of someone seeing a way to make things better and doing something, This Community Action Guide is a time a group worked to make life better.

“Civic engagement” means getting involved with your community. That might mean:

going to public meetings (like Town Council) to share your ideas
serving as a board member
running for elected office
getting a group together to work for a cause you care about

There are four simple steps for change:

Ask questions
Figure out your “leadership style”
Make a plan
Take action

There are a lot of different ways to be a leader. This Community Action Guide is set up to help four different types of leaders with tools that are helpful for them. The fourt types are:

Drivers: big picture thinkers who want to get things done quickly
Architect/Analysts: data gatherers who collect lots of information about their cause and use it to convince people what path to take
Relationship Masters: team players who know and connect a lot of people
Spontaneous Motivators: people with charisma who can give a great speech and rally people to their cause

The Civic Resource Library has documents, videos, and links for each of the leadership types. Sort by categories once you figure out what type you are. You can use the information to help you build a plan for how to change things!

To make a change, you need two things: a plan and a team. Remember that the teams that get the most done usually have all four types of leaders. If you want to get involved, but you’re not sure where to start, you can:

Go to a meeting
Volunteer with a nonprofit
Vote (if you’re an eligible, registered voter)

Have you used this guide to change things in our community? Scroll up and fill out the form. We’d love to hear your story.