The Community Commons:
A Dialogue on Local Approaches to the MDGs

Rose Hill Campus of Fordham University, New York City
16-18 June 2005

Outcomes/Products

Desired outcomes of the Community Commons include:

1. Advocacy

• A strengthened advocacy platform for community voices – with Commons participants feeling part of a broad-based grassroots movement.
• A ‘Community Voices’ Declaration and thematic recommendations– to be presented at the CSO Hearings scheduled (23-24 June 2005) by Community Commons participants.
• Two complimentary publications (and accompanying audience-specific products)
  • “New Strategies for Development: Community Approaches to Meeting the Millennium Development Goals” book for distribution at the Millennium Review Summit
  • “Local Action to Make a Difference: Community Good Practice Across the MDGs” book
• Commitment from selected Government representatives to ‘champion’ community recommendations at the CSO hearings and the MRS.

2. Capacity Development

• (Financial) commitment to support for ongoing knowledge exchange and learning amongst Community Commons participants
• Community representatives have improved access to tools and partners to support their own advocacy work locally and nationally.