International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) is a global association of spokespeople who advocate for an increased amount of “public participation” in government and industry in line with the ideologies of direct democracy and stakeholder capitalism. 1
Background
The group was founded in 1990 as the International Association of Public Participation Practitioners (IAP3), with its first annual conference held in Portland, Oregon, in 1992. At the time of the first conference, the group had 300 members, both professionals and volunteers; by 2019 it had more than 12,500 members from 26 countries. The group developed its regional branches in 2010 to address increasingly localized interest. 2
Activities
International Association for Public Participation seeks to increase the level of “public participation” in government and industry, informed by the left-progressive concepts of direct democracy and stakeholder capitalism. To reach this end, IAP2 hosts events, distributes publications, and pushes communications to its members and supporters; advocates for greater public participation to governments globally; conducts research reports; and provides activists with technical assistance. 3
In 1999, IAP2 launched a Certificate Training Course in Public Participation to teach tools and skills to those interested in public participation. This was later rebranded as Foundations in Public Participation in 2015 when it was updated. IAP2 launched a similar course, Emotion, Outrage, and Public Participation, in 2009. IAP2 has held conferences on the state of public participation in North America, alternating between Canada and the United States, every year since 1992. 4
In its “Statement on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion,” IAP2 quotes civil rights writer and activist James Baldwin and announces that it “stands with Black Lives Matter in the United States and globally.” It affirms the alleged existence of “systemic racism” and “ubiquitous inequity.” 5
Funding
International Association for Public Participation’s U.S. branch is designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt interest group. 6 In 2019, the IAP2 USA, the American branch, reported a total revenue of $437,157, total expenses of $377,576, and net assets of $152,957. 7
Its annual report for the same year, presenting the same figures but across its international branches, showed a total revenue of $576,136, total expenses of $541,284, and net assets of $568,850. 8
Leadership
Bruce Gilbert is the international chair of International Association for Public Participation. He comes from its Canada branch, having sat on its board from 2015 to 2020 and having worked as its president from 2015 to 2018. Gilbert served as the chief of staff for the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party Caucus from 2017 to 2020. In addition to working as the international chair of IAP2, Gilbert runs a consulting firm, Bruce C. Gilbert Consulting. 9
Adriene Wright is the deputy chair of IAP2. She was a policy advisor in the United States Senate and a former Brookings Congressional Fellow. Wright founded and works as the president of management consulting firm Abelita LLC, which provides strategic planning to clients across industries public and private. 10
IAP2 counts among its board members people from across its international branches, including Indonesia, Australasia, and Southern Africa. 11
References
- “History.” IAP2.org. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.iap2.org/page/history.
- “History.” IAP2.org. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.iap2.org/page/history.
- “History.” IAP2.org. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.iap2.org/page/history
- “History.” IAP2.org. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.iap2.org/page/history.
- “IAP2 International Statement on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (English).” IAP2.org. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.iap2.org/page/IAP2-DEI-English.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). International Association for Public Participation USA. 2019. Line I.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). International Association for Public Participation USA. 2019. Lines 12, 18, and 22.
- “ page 17. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.iap2.org/resource/resmgr/annual_reports/2020_annual_report_final.pdf.
- [1] “Board of Directors.” IAP2.org. Accessed 27 July 2022. https://www.iap2.org/page/board.
- “Board of Directors.” IAP2.org. Accessed 27 July 2022. https://www.iap2.org/page/board
- “Board of Directors.” IAP2.org. Accessed 27 July 2022. https://www.iap2.org/page/board.