What is New with the JKA GROUP

What's New

Public Policy as Empowerment
For those interested in the science of community, and the application of learning principles in facilitating change initiatives, the following article was published in the newsletter of the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) in May, 2010. Kevin makes the case that applied anthropology should be focused on the facilitation of beneficial change by working within and through existing cultural systems - everyday people in their survival and caretaking settings, in which social research is a needed component but not the end product. read full paper

JKA'S Regular Column in Right of Way Magazine

Jim Kent is a columnist for the Right of Way Magazine for the International Right of Way Association. What does it say when a 75-year old, well-established engineering magazine, dedicated to the technical aspects of energy site and corridor development, invited a regular column from Jim on Social Ecology, the Science of Community? Jim shares cutting edge insights, learning experiences and solutions. Read more»»

Kevin Preister and Erik Tilkemeier, James Kent Associates, will do a presentation for the Energy Expo being held in San Diego on July 29-31. Their topic is "Learning Community: How to Manage Issues Before They Manage You." The conference is oriented to the private sector and the huge growth in solar and wind energy projects in the U.S.--many facing citizen resistance which threaten their approval. Companies are simply not doing the front end work with community necessary to prevent surprise, to resolve issues and to optimize the benefits to local communities. The presentation will describe the conceptual framework that guides our work and case studies that show successful applications of the "science of community." JKA will have an exhibit booth as well so come on by and visit!

JKA Team completes sweeping social assessment of Eastern Washington State for BLM

Kevin Preister and Trish Malone headed up a JKA team which conducted a social assessment for the Bureau of Land Management's Spokane District Office. Their team engaged in the Discovery Process from the Cascade Mountains east to the Idaho border and included the San Juan Islands. Part of the assignment was to develop a human geographic map of the area that depicts how people actually relate to and use their landscapes. The Human Resource Units identified through this work have become the units for the BLM planning effort. The team identified a widespread trend of citizen-based stewardship in which residents throughout the region are involved in restoration activities on public and private lands. In addition, they discovered a pervasive focus on outdoor recreation development that is coupled with conservation and ecological education, showing in vivid terms that public land uses are an intricate part of the quality of life in these communities. The work revealed ample opportunities for BLM to engage in citizen-based collaboration during development and implementation of the plan.

"Heart and Soul of Communities in Eastern Washington" by Kevin Preister

Southern Oregon University (SOU) and the Center for Social Ecology and Public Policy (CSEPP) partner once again for the 2010 summer field school June 21 - July 16. This years public policy focus is on "The Sustainability of Small Diameter Harvest Programs in Southern Oregon-The Social, Economic and Ecological Dimensions."

For more information on the 2nd annual 2010 summer field school in Ashland Oregon

Join the lively discussions on Jim Kent's blog where he shares his thoughts on subjects from Civic Culture to Deep Democracy. http://jimkent.wordpress.com.

James Kent Associates (JKA), with four decades of experience as practitioners in place-based collaboration, proposes to assist the USDA Forest Service to attain productive harmony in national forest management through forest plans.

Read the entire proposal delivered to Harris Sherman, Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment and Tom Tidwell, Chief, U.S. Forest Service in March 2010.

JKAgroup has launched an e-newsletter, with exciting news articles and updates of our three companies.