Bright spots slideshare - final
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The document analyzes examples of community engagement from 14 U.S. cities and identifies lessons learned and best practices. It finds that successful community engagement involves involving diverse groups of community members, using new tools like technology to draw in citizens, and focusing on sustainable efforts using multiple strategies. Key tactics for building community engagement include using open data, bringing different sectors together for problem solving, participatory budgeting, and developing civic skills in community members. The largest challenges are achieving broad participation, overcoming community divisions, and ensuring initiatives can continue with leadership and policy changes.
Bright spots slideshare - final
- 1. BRIGHT SPOTS IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT with support from
- 2. Some U.S. communities are building greater civic participation from the bottom up. Analysis of 14 U.S. Cities and deeper case studies of four reveal successes and challenges in creating community bright spots. OVERVIEW: Photo credit: Knight Foundation
- 3. • The best examples change policy and unite diverse groups • The more segments of the community you involve the greater the benefits • New tools, especially tech tools, are key to drawing in a range of citizens • Sustained engagement translates into economic gains • Biggest challenges: scaling and sustaining best practice KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM SCANS OF 14 CITIES: Photo credit: flickr.com/alexknowshtml
- 4. These bright spots have started movements to foster attachment, expand information access and motivate people to play a larger role in their communities. • Philadelphia, PA • St. Paul, MN • Austin, TX • Boston, MA • Charlotte, NC • Chicago, IL • Hampton, VA • Richmond, VA • Hartford, CT • Macon, GA • Decatur, GA • San Jose, CA • Akron, OH • Detroit, MI
- 5. Photo credit: Detroit Kiva Engage people around community challenges and problem-solving Detroit: Kiva Detroit is focused on economic development in low-income neighborhoods. LESSON # 1
- 6. Photo credit: flickr.com/ GroundworkCDS Plan programs to involve a broad spectrum of people, including the hard-to-reach. Chicago: The city’s 49th ward engaged a broad and diverse audience in policy decisions related to participatory budgeting. LESSON # 2
- 7. Photo credit: flickr.com/Kara La Fleur Use new tools and strategies that tap into the power of technology. Philadelphia: Embarked on an open data initiative by engaging a civically minded tech community to help city development efforts. LESSON # 3
- 8. Photo credit: flickr.com/austintexasgov Focus on sustainable efforts that use a range of strategies. Austin: Imagine Austin defines a vision and framework for all residents to grow and develop the city using in-person and online tools and strategies. LESSON # 4
- 9. • Use open data to engage residents and improve lives • Unite different sectors (i.e. government and tech) for innovative problem solving • Use city visioning and strategic planning as a traditional but useful way to engage lots of people – for a short time • Employ participatory budgeting to engage communities • Equip people to participate toward sustainability, i.e. developing leadership or parenting skills SUMMING UP: KEY TOOLS AND TACTICS FOR BUILDING BRIGHT SPOTS Photo credit: Crossroads Charlotte
- 10. SUMMING UP: WAYS TO TACKLE CHALLENGES • Achieving scale: create strong networks to reshape institutions and systems. • Reconciling community divisions: mix available tools (including tech) to chart new paths • Responding to change: develop built-in plans for adapting and implementing initiatives beyond leadership transitions Photo credit: Knight Foundation
- 11. BRIGHT SPOTS IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT with support from knightfoundation.org | @knightfdnnlc.org | @leagueofcities Photo credit: flickr.com/DetroitWorksLongTerm