Shared Principles for Community Collaboration in West Calcasieu Parish
Program Areas –
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I learn more about Project Cypress?
Learn more about Project Cypress at their website. On OCED’s website, please read the project fact sheet and project community benefits fact sheet.
Have a project-related question or want to get in touch with the Project Cypress team? Please reach out to [email protected].
I got an invitation to a Shared Principles event. Why was I invited? How did you get my information?
Our team uses local contact lists to invite community members to Shared Principles events via email, mail, and text message. You were likely invited based on your residence in West Calcasieu Parish, which is the area where Project Cypress is being developed. If we contacted you about an event and you do not live in West Calcasieu Parish, our lists may have been out of date. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you do not wish to be contacted in the future, please contact our team to take you off our lists.
Why was I invited to a Shared Principles event, but someone else I know wasn’t?
As above, we use local contact lists to reach out to residents by email, mail, and text message. Others may not have been invited if their information is not included in local contact lists (for example, if they are on a “do not call” list). If they live further from the project area, they likely were also not contacted.
I’m planning on attending a Shared Principles event. What should I expect?
Events held for Shared Principles are a little different than other community events you might attend. They are not town halls. You should expect to be an active participant at the event, rather than just a listener. The day will include multiple small group activities that will help us understand community perspectives, priorities, hopes, and concerns. There will be some information presented about direct air capture and Project Cypress, but most of the event is meant for us to learn from you.
We will provide meals during the event. Childcare will also be available, if needed.
Community members who register, are accepted, and attend SPCC events will receive compensation for their time.
Will I learn more about Project Cypress at Shared Principles events?
Shared Principles events are mainly designed to help us learn from you. Representatives from OCED and Project Cypress will be at Shared Principles events and will present some information about the project, but mostly listen to community members. You should expect that most of the time will be group discussions and activities among community members and CSPO’s facilitators. The OCED and Project Cypress representatives will be available to answer questions during breaks and lunch. Any questions that cannot be answered at the dialogue will be taken back to respective experts. Answers will later be added to the Project Cypress website.
To share more information about the project, Project Cypress and OCED have planned additional engagement events in the community that are separate from Shared Principles. This includes a community open house held on Tuesday, October 29th at SOWELA Technical Community College. Sign up for Project Cypress’s email list to find out about other upcoming events where you can learn more about the project. Click this link to their website and scroll to the bottom of the page to subscribe.
Have a project-related question or want to get in touch with the Project Cypress team? Please reach out to [email protected].
Why do I have to complete an interest form to attend a Shared Principles event?
The interest form helps us keep track of how many attendees plan to join us at the event and know who those attendees are. This allows us to plan for logistics like meals and childcare. It also helps us ensure that we have a diverse group of participants, as our goal is to hear from a representative sample of the community. Because of the need for group diversity and limited space, please note that we may not be able to accommodate all individuals who complete an interest form.
Once you complete the interest form, you’ll hear back from our team before the event to confirm your participation. Respond to them with your official RSVP to secure your spot at the event.
Why is CSPO leading Shared Principles, instead of OCED or Project Cypress?
CSPO was hired by OCED as an independent facilitator for the Shared Principles process. This allows participants to speak freely about matters concerning OCED or Project Cypress. CSPO briefs both OCED and Project Cypress on the learnings from Shared Principles so community perspectives are shared directly with decision-makers. Representatives from both OCED and Project Cypress also attend Shared Principles events to directly learn from the community and answer questions.
Have a question that we didn’t answer here? Reach out to Project Cypress at [email protected].