What do you do if your public meetings and workshops as an urban planner are not engaging the community?
Urban planning, at its core, is about fostering communities that are functional, sustainable, and reflective of the inhabitants' needs and aspirations. As an urban planner, your role is not just to map out spaces and infrastructures but to ensure that the public's voice is integral to the planning process. However, if you find your public meetings and workshops are met with disinterest or low engagement, it's a signal that your approach may need some fine-tuning. It's crucial to understand that engagement is a two-way street; your goal is to create a platform where community members feel heard, valued, and motivated to participate actively in shaping their environment.
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Hoda Behravesh[email protected] |Architect |urban planner
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Marcelo QueirozDeputado Federal | Mestre em Economia l Gestão Pública l Direito Tributário l Defensor dos Animais l Meio Ambiente.
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Nadine Bitar Chahine| MENA Cities| Urban Policy | Cities Futures | Urban Planning | SDG localisation | Local Development | Impact…
When your public meetings aren't drawing the crowd you expect, consider the timing of your events. If you schedule meetings during work hours or at times when people are usually busy with family obligations, you're likely to see lower participation. Try to find out when most community members are available and willing to engage. This might involve holding meetings in the evenings or on weekends, or even spreading out sessions to cater to different schedules. Remember, the goal is to make it as convenient as possible for the widest range of people to attend.
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One effective approach is to incorporate interactive activities that encourage participants to actively engage with the content. Utilizing visual aids, such as presentations or handouts, can also help capture the audience's attention and reinforce key points. Encouraging open discussions and Q&A sessions allows community members to share their perspectives and ask questions, fostering a more collaborative environment. Providing real-life examples that relate to the topic can help participants better understand the relevance and practical applications of the information being presented.Seeking diverse viewpoints from community members can also enrich
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If public meetings and workshops as an urban planner lack community engagement, I would take action by gathering feedback, diversifying formats, and improving communication. Involving community members in planning, addressing barriers to participation, and building trust are essential strategies. Continuous evaluation and adjustment based on feedback ensure ongoing improvement and community involvement.
The location of your meetings can be just as important as when they occur. If the venue is not centrally located, easily accessible by public transportation, or familiar to the community, attendance might suffer. Select a venue that is well-known, comfortable, and accessible to all, including those with disabilities. Sometimes, moving a meeting to a community center, local school, or even a popular park can make a difference in how inviting it feels to potential participants.
Traditional meeting formats can be intimidating or dull. Consider mixing up your approach to make workshops more interactive and less formal. Workshops that involve hands-on activities, visual aids, or opportunities for collaborative work can be more engaging than lecture-style presentations. Use techniques like interactive mapping, model building, or design charrettes to get people actively involved. The more you can make participants feel like they're part of the process, the more invested they'll be in the outcome.
Relying solely on one method of communication to announce your meetings may not reach everyone. Use a variety of outreach methods to engage a diverse audience. Social media, local newspapers, radio announcements, flyers in community centers, and direct mailings can all play a part in spreading the word. It's also beneficial to partner with local organizations and influencers who can help amplify your message. Tailor your outreach to the specific demographics of your community to ensure that no one is left out.
If community members feel their input isn't valued or considered, they're less likely to participate. Establish clear feedback loops where participants can see how their contributions are influencing the planning process. This could involve follow-up meetings where you report back on how input has been integrated or providing online updates. Transparency in how decisions are made and showing tangible results from community input can build trust and encourage ongoing engagement.
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One of the feedback loop following workshops could be in the form of a white paper shared to participants that summarises their inputs , analyse the data collected during the workshop , the insights given and propose ways in which to icorporate them in the next phase of work. The white paper is a way to continue the discussion if circulated through proper communications channels ans also visualised in a way that appeals to different social groups
Lastly, consider offering incentives to boost attendance at your public meetings. This could be as simple as providing refreshments or childcare services during the meeting, or as significant as organizing raffles or other forms of recognition for participants. When community members see that their time and input are valued, they're more likely to make the effort to attend and contribute to the urban planning process.
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