Building a vibrant democracy where all people — even those furthest from power — can make their voices heard, participate in decisions, and advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Patient in a community health center
Each year, people in low-income communities have millions of encounters with complex systems where lifealtering decisions are made. Many people feel they don’t have a voice in these decisions. The encounters can feel overwhelming, confusing, and intimidating.
Frontline workers in these systems — teachers, service providers, caseworkers, healthcare professionals — are often overworked, under-resourced, and frustrated by this dynamic.
Mother navigating the child welfare system
“I knew there were things I needed to know, I needed to ask, but I didn’t know how to ask them or I didn’t know whether it was right to ask.”
“We don’t go to the school because we don’t even know what to ask.“
Parents in a drop-out prevention program
“I didn’t know decisions were made here.”
RQI’s simple method for teaching people to ask their own questions leads them to feel a new sense of agency and power.
At RQI, we build people’s ability to ask better questions and participate in decisions that affect them.
The skill of asking questions can be transformative.
Engage
To feel a new sense of urgency to get involved in issues that affect them, their families, and communities.
Navigate
Asking questions sharpens people’s ability to ...
Advocate
To interact more effectively with complex systems and partner with the dedicated professionals who work in those systems
To make their voices heard and become more active participants in democracy
RQI’s method “allows people who don’t usually speak up to find their own voice. They don’t have to depend on me or others to speak for them ... they speak for themselves.”
Faye Kennedy, Community Educator and Advocate, The Center for Collaborative Planning, Sacramento, California
As a result of this workshop I plan to do:
Woman in a homeless shelter in Louisville, Kentucky, after learning RQI’s methods
Where we work
RQI supports frontline workers across many fields to advance the voices of communities and individuals they serve.
Social services
Education
Legal settings
Health care
School-family partnerships
Voter engagement