Engaging new communities

1. Reaching New Communities
Engaging Residents Unfamiliar With
(or Suspicious of!) the Planning Process
Alison LeFlore, AICP
Rob May, CEcD, CITY OF BROCKTON, MA
Emily Innes, LEED AP ND, HARRIMAN
Jennelle Graziano, LAWRENCE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

2. Things Are Changing
• Our communities are changing
• How we communicate with one another is
changing
• The way residents expect their cities to
operate is changing
• Residents have less free time and are more
selective with volunteer activities

3. Public Engagement is Key to the
Planning Process

4. How We Engage Communities
Must Evolve and Adapt
• New technology is available
• More flexible and ongoing communication
necessary
• New and different techniques to reach
underrepresented groups

5. Why Engage?
• Education
• Feedback
• Stewardship

6. Who do we engage?
• Municipal Officials
• Municipal Staff
• Residents
• Business Owners
• Property Owners
• Nonprofits
• Institutions
• State Officials

7. Who Needs Extra Motivation?
• Working Parents
• Low Income Residents
• Youth and Young Adults
• Minority Residents
• Immigrant Communities
• Non-English Speakers

8. Traditional Approaches
Where YOU are
• Formal
– Workshops
– Presentations
– Charrettes
• Informal
– Drop-ins
– Open Houses
– Targeted Conversations

9. Traditional Techniques
• Mapping Exercises
• SWOT Analysis
• Paper Surveys
• Presentations
• Facilitated Discussion

10. New Techniques
• Pop up and different locations
• More interactive activities
• Creative and unique approaches
• Combination of in person and online
activities
• Provide opportunities for different levels of
engagement

11. Reaching New Communities
Where the COMMUNITY is
• Neighborhood Associations
• Meetings of Community Organizations
• Business Groups
• Festivals
• Radio Shows
• Local Cable
• Social Media

12. Community Inventory
• Important step to identify the various
community groups
• Build connections with community leaders
• Use community leaders to bring others to the
process
• Include local organizations, nonprofits, social
service groups, advocacy groups, religious
entities, business associations, everyone!

13. Engaging Non-English Speakers
• Translations are helpful, but not the only tool
• Ask community members to help facilitate;
this is a great role for teenagers!
• Many communities have multiple dominant
languages

14. Project Website
• Important tool to share information
• Provides location for Project Materials

15. Social Media
• Each community has a different relationship
with social media
• Identify the right platform for your project
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Instagram
– NextDoor
– Always something new!

16. Social Media: Tips and Tricks
• Develop a social media strategy
• Keep it fresh
• Some users will respond to questions, others
will just look at what is posted

17. Power of Technology
• Online Workshops
• Opportunities for Interaction
• Mapping Tools
• Online Forums

18. Reducing Barriers
• Language Barriers
• Time Challenges
– Meet at different days/times
– Meet in different locations
– Provide child care, or even better – include kids
in the meeting
• Free Food

19. Successful Processes
• LawrenceTBD

20. LawrenceTBD

21. LawrenceTBD

22. A Blueprint for Brockton
• Listening Tour: 7 meetings, different
locations, times, targeted audiences

23. A Blueprint for Brockton
• 100+ participants, >1% of City’s Population

24. Reaching New Communities
Engaging Residents Unfamiliar With
(or Suspicious of!) the Planning Process
Questions and Discussion