Using Collaboration to Transforming Community Conflict to Resiliency

Keywords: Community Based Collaboration, Collaborative Governance, Public Policy Conflict Resolution,Rural Health

Abstract: The rural community of Burns, Oregon received national attention in 2016 when an occupation of the federal refuge in the area by a band of self-proclaimed militia failed to escalate into the standoff they hoped for against federal government "tyranny". The community's resiliency in the face of such powerful agitation was ascribed to the culture of collaboration that had been established through the work of the High Desert Partnership (HDP), a partnership of diverse local, federal, and community entities, devoted to solving problems through “collaborative governance”. Although collaborative approaches are increasingly being used to successfully address a wide range of community needs, what makes these efforts effective is not clearly understood. Researchers from Portland State University and the National Policy Consensus Center conducted an in-depth case study of the HDP and will share the lessons learned to inform theory and practice of resolving community based conflict and building community health.