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Collaboration and Public Participation Center of Expertise (CPCX)

Formally designated in 2008, the Collaboration and Public Participation Center of Expertise (CPCX) improves the outcomes of USACE missions by supporting collaborative processes and ensuring that the interests of partners, stakeholders, and the public are addressed.

CPCX provides input to USACE guidance, policies, and procedures that relate to collaboration and advise Headquarters on current national and international trends or issues in public participation, conflict resolution, and collaborative governance.

CPCX operates through an extended network of experts across USACE that include CPCX core staff, the Public Involvement Specialist Cadre, and the Collaboration Community of Practice (CoP).

  • CPCX core staff are located across the United States, and bring key collaboration skills in areas such as training, conflict resolution, facilitation, applied learning environments, shared vision planning, survey development, and communication planning.
  • Collaboration and Public Participation Center of Expertise (CPCX) MSC Liaisons and Public Involvement SpecialistsThe Public Involvement Specialist Cadre is a team of nationwide specialists trained in communication, conflict management, and public involvement. PI specialists work with Districts to design and implement communication plans and foster a collaborative environment with internal teams, project partners and stakeholders. View the PI Specialists Fact Sheet.
  • The Collaboration CoP membership includes all Corps of Engineers individuals that practice and share an interest in collaborative processes, including public participation, stakeholder and partner engagement, risk communication, facilitation, conflict resolution, teambuilding, virtual collaboration, and collaborative technologies. Membership cuts across all USACE business lines and includes planners, program and project managers, engineers, project personnel, members of offices of counsel, those in environmental fields, cultural resources, social scientists, public affairs, and others interested in support of public participation and risk communication. To join the Collaboration CoP, email Stacy.Langsdale@usace.army.mil
 

Resources

Technical Assistance

CPXC provides direct support to USACE divisions and districts to assist collaboration-related needs such as public engagement, meeting facilitation, development of communication plans, and training. To inquire about direct support needs, please contact Hunter.Merritt@usace.army.mil

What Customers Say About Us

"CPCX’s assistance through the GCC brought the stakeholder group to a place of open communication and made significant strides to trust between the parties. The feedback we received from the users will lead to a better, more thorough reallocation report, and lessen the likelihood of a lawsuit over the final study."

"CPCX was able to fill a roll that would have been very difficult to fill with someone internal to the District. They were able to bring an 'outsider' perspective with 'insider' knowledge."

"I would be extremely likely to recommend CPCX assistance to another colleague. I say this because of the team’s superior communication, patience and refined awareness in grasping the organizational challenges and most importantly their ability to keep us focused and on task."

"The facilitator suggested for the Lowell Creek charette was very experienced at facilitation and very resourceful with the limited technology available to us for the meeting. The meeting would not have been as well run without his involvement."

Training

CPCX provides an array of training options on skills and processes that support Collaboration and Public Participation, from short webinars to formal courses.  CPXC provides courses through the USACE Learning Center as well as custom courses for your team on topics such as effective communication, teambuilding, facilitation, shared vision planning, applied learning environments, and conflict resolution. Please contact Stacy.M.Langsdale@usace.army.mil for more information and specific requests.