FAQ on the Citizens Convention

(Q) What, when and where?
(A) Great Expectations Citizens Convention, noon to 5 p.m. (Check-in 11:30am), Dec. 2; Pennsylvania Convention Center.

(Q) When is Michael Nutter speaking?
(A) He's scheduled to go on as the keynote speaker for the event at 12:30 p.m.

(Q) Five hours is a long time. Do I have to stay for the whole thing?
(A) No. We'd love it if you could, because we value your input.  But after the opening speeches, the afternoon is structured as a set of three, one-hour breakout sessions where citizens will work together to review how the agenda deals with different issues. You could attend one, two or all three of those hour-long sessions, as your schedule allows.  Even if you can't make the beginning of the convention, don't let that stop you from showing up at 2 or 3 p.m. to take part in later sessions.

(Q) Five hours is a long time. Are you going to feed me?
(A) Of course. The day begins with lunch, and a tasty spread of snacks will be put out around 3 p.m.

(Q) What if I don't have a car?
(A) The convention center is right above Market East Station, so it's easy to reach via SEPTA. You don't even have to go outside to enter the convention center.  Also, we're planning to have small buses leaving from several key locations in the neighborhoods to take people to the convention.  If you'd like information on that, let us know by return email.

(Q) Well, if you've already written the Great Expectations Agenda, what's the point of the convention?
(A) The document you'll see in the paper is a draft, based on the year of citizen input the project has already received. But one purpose of the day is for citizens to critique the agenda, suggesting revisions and improvements.

(Q) What am I expected to do at this thing? I'm no expert on all those issues.
(A) Perhaps not. But you're an expert on what it's like to live in your neighborhood, to live in this region. That makes your input on these ideas valid and vital.  And you probably know a heck of a lot more about some of those issues than you give yourself credit for. All we want you to do is tell us honestly what you like and what you don't like in these to-do lists, what's missing and what ideas you have to add.

(Q) So what happens to this Agenda?
(A) It will be completed in January, based on convention input and follow-up discussion online, and presented to Mayor Nutter and the new Council in a series of events in late January and February.  We'll ask citizens to participate in these events to discuss the agenda with their Mayor and Council representatives.  After that, the Great Expectations project will continue, as a vehicle for monitoring the city's progress on these issues. We'll also dig into some issues in more depth, through forums and other projects. We have ideas for forums on policing, city budgeting and arts and culture in 2008, at the least.  We're also beginning an effort, working with dozens of civic leaders around the city, to write a "New Deal" between neighborhoods and City Hall, a new set of understandings about services, civic input and power sharing.

And once you've signed up, please feel free to invite a friend to come with you.  But you should hurry, because space is limited and at some point we may have to close registration.