Elements of Effective Engagement

This brief guide makes recommendations on how to improve community engagement during the planning process for implementing resilient infrastructure. Based on examples from the first seven projects sponsored by Rebuild by Design, this document highlights the best practices of community engagement among the projects as they were implemented. The guide asserts that the success of any project “depends largely on the degree, quality and continuation of community collaboration,” making its recommendations valuable for improving climate resilience in local communities.

The guide contains 12 recommendations, including:

  • Demonstrate the value of community participation (show that community feedback is being taken into account)
  • Make sharing input easy for the community
  • Foster an accessible planning space
  • Visualize the design (maps, models, images)
  • Use video to illustrate technical processes
  • Keep the big picture in mind (take regional efforts and other projects into account)
  • Share meetings online
  • Avoid inaccessible language (avoid or fully explain jargon or bureaucratic language)
  • Utilize multiple outreach techniques (use several methods to ensure the community is informed about the proceedings of the project)
  • Develop existing social structures (collaborate with community organizations)
  • Use the community as a classroom (hold events at locations important to the project or the project site itself)
  • Respond to community concerns

Each of these recommendations is paired with a brief real world example that illustrates how Rebuild By Design grantees put it into practice. For example, the recommendation to  “utilize multiple outreach techniques” draws on an example from the Staten Island Community Advisory Committee, which had its members go door-to-door in order to build awareness about the project.

Rebuild by Design was initially created as a design competition for rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. In partnership with the 100 Resilient Cities organization, it helps local communities in building climate resilience by providing assistance with research and planning.



 

Publication Date: 2016

Related Organizations:

Sectors:

Resource Category:

Resource Types:

  • Communication
  • Engagement

States Affected:

Go To Resource