Public and community engagement, involvement and participation is what we are doing as consultants. It is also what we help others do most effectively. We work with teams, companies and agencies on reaching consensus through public participation and collaboration. We usually find ourselves bridging divides by creating spaces where people are willing to participate to build solutions. Community engagement builds consensus. And below you have some of the best of the news and tips that we have found about how to engage communities. Or what happens when you do not. The latest news handpicked by our public sector consultants, all wrapped up with a sometimes snarky – yet always informed – perspective. Enjoy!
Every once in a while, we can all use a shot in the arm (or in my case, a shot). When true public participation presents itself, we need to celebrate it. If you’re looking for lessons, guidance and good examples, I can’t think of a better inspiration than Vermont Town ...
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We’ve raised this in past issues, but obviously the obvious is not always that obvious, so it bears repeating: possibly the most important component of public engagement is active, intentional listening. I’m sure that you know the basics, it’s part of the core beliefs and fundamental work of our ...
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It was recently suggested that artificial intelligence (AI) could replace community engagement people, like AI is predicted to replace 375 million jobs globally by 2050. It won’t. AI will have, and is having, a major effect on data driven and technical fields, but when it comes to context, nuance, emotion ...
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My partners (Wendy and Doug) and I concluded a while ago that the best, most effective community engagement is happening at the local level. It stands to reason that the closer those who govern are to those who are governed, the greater the chance for real, authentic public participation. Consider ...
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Having worked in public participation for well over three decades, I’ve worked with thousands of people who don’t look anything like me. (Lucky for them.) I’m no saint, but I don’t think there’s ever been a time when I’ve intentionally ignored or dismissed people who are different, nor have I ...
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“Take care of yourself and each other” was and is the signature signoff line for both the late Jerry Springer, the former Mayor of Cincinnati and ringmaster of his crazy TV show that ran for 27 years, and Lester Holt, the NBC Evening News and Dateline anchor. As weird and ...
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If you read last month’s issue, you probably remember the piece that we sent you about behavioral science differences between face to face and online meetings. We, and that story, have concluded that face to face meetings are generally superior to meetings done by Zoom, Teams or some other online ...
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Video meetings aren’t as effective as being face to face. You’re probably not shocked to learn this. Our world changed with the COVID pandemic; we thought we were out of business until video meeting platforms like Zoom and Teams came riding in like the proverbial cavalry to save the day. ...
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You probably remember the story of the collapse of a section of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia this summer that was expected to result in a local traffic nightmare for at least months while the fix was planned and executed. Instead, the repair was accomplished and traffic restored in astonishingly record ...
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We’re living in a time of relentless talk where we’re encouraged to continually spew our opinions (and photos of most of our meals) through social media. And broadcast infotainment and angertainment is populated by any number of talking heads, many of whom clearly have their sphincters on the pulse of ...
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