Creative Instigation
The Art & Strategy of Authentic Community Engagement
by Fern Tiger
Creative Instigation is a collection of in-depth case stories focused on effective and innovative community engagement and policymaking in diverse cities across the western U.S. Each story reflects the history and uniqueness of the community, organization, or institution—providing grit to the importance of context to understand the why and the how of this work. It includes the successes and challenges, and the efforts needed to do this work well. Unlike “typical engagement,” where meetings are announced via limited venues with limited information, Creative Instigation describes engagement that is authentic, outreach that is expansive, and research that uncovers the soul of a community. No two approaches are alike.
Published by New Village Press
Distributed by NYU Press
Publication Date: October 2024
Pages: 328
Trim: 10.00 X 8.00 in
ISBN: 978-1-61332-251-2
Price: $44.95
Also available in hardcover and ebook
About Fern Tiger
Fern Tiger is the founder and creative director of Fern Tiger Associates in Oakland, CA, has designed and facilitated scores of projects throughout the U.S. that have engaged communities, organizations, institutions, and public agencies in solving controversial issues and overcoming power gaps in strategic, innovative, and meaningful ways. Her transdisciplinary approaches to this work combine the creative, intuitive tools of the artist/designer with the practical, systemic tools of urban planners, the discipline of academic researchers, and the inspiration of community organizers and activists. Tiger has taught at several universities and most recently held professorships at Arizona State University, and University of Washington Tacoma.
“The insights offered by Fern Tiger in Creative Instigation, drawn from years of practicing and honing her comprehensive process, offer a treasure trove of guidance and inspiration on bringing people together to have conversations that empower them while also making a positive difference in their lives. The chameleonlike nature of Tiger’s process truly distinguishes it from standard run-of-the-mill participation, and ensures engagement is inclusive and enjoyable, honors all who participate, and ultimately taps into a collective well of wisdom that transforms problems into a range of possibilities for enriching places and communities.”
—Nan B. Ellin, Professor of Urban Design, University of Colorado Denver
“Reading this book is like sitting at the campfire of a long-time leader and listening to the stories she has to tell. Fern Tiger is a master of how behind-the-scenes leadership can successfully involve communities in key public policy matters, often finding an unexpected way to bring wins to more than one side.”
—Jan Masaoka, California Association of Nonprofits