Informal conversations happen in multiple ways.
- Sometimes they are between two people (or sometimes a small group) that just happen as the opportunity presents itself. Let's say, for example, that a small group of parents/guardians are having a small get-together. During the course of conversation, someone brings up the fact that the police department recently busted up an underage drinking party in the neighborhood. That's a teachable moment -- a time at which a person is attuned to a topic and more likely to take away from the scenario key points about an issue or concern. That is, awareness can be raised, and new concepts can be learned.
- Sometimes they are more deliberate--planned events where a small group of individuals come together for the purpose of discussing the issue. Let'ssay, for example, that the community has just passed a social host ordinance and a feww parents come together to discuss the implications that it has for property owners in the community. Or, an employee might choose to hold a brown-bag lunch at work on the issue of underage drinking as a way to lower employee benefit costs related to adolescent substance abuse treatment.
- There area multitude of other scenarios and one thing they all have in common is a single individual--someone willing to bring up the topic.
The Leadership's Engage initiative is about giving you the confidence (through the provision of information and resources) to be that person. Here are some things to help you be informed on the issue:
