There is no one-size fits all approach to public engagement. Poorly attended public meetings that attract the same people every time doesn’t cut it. That said, neither does going 180 in the opposite direction with the latest digital tool. The solution is utilizing a wide range of traditional and digital engagement tools to reach individuals where they are, at the right time, with the right message, and with the right tools.
We believe in Equity in Public Engagement and therefore have developed a robust toolbox of custom engagement tactics, tools, and resources so that we connect with people on their terms.
When done correctly public engagement can be fun, and engaging, and foster civic pride. CivicBrand leads communities and planning firms through public engagement strategies around individual projects as well as developing and managing an ongoing engagement strategy and engagement brand.
Public Engagement is the cornerstone of the CivicBrand process and we’ve built our firm off the Jane Jacobs quote that says, “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
We believe in most communities public engagement is broken and we are on a mission to change that. We want individuals to be inspired, educated, involved and shape the future of their communities. We want city staff to be supported and get the information, credit and buy-in they need to be successful. We want developers, property, business owners to be proplerly informed and heard so they continue to invest in our communities. All of this can only be done through meaningful engagement.
“CivicBrand’s toolbox of engagement techniques make soliciting public input easy and effective. Their virtual engagement room is designed in a way that users of all technology abilities can navigate it with ease. As a project manager, I appreciate the responsiveness and creativity of the CivicBrand – it makes my job a little easier!”
– Chelsea Irby, Senior Planner, Halff
Public engagement is vital to the success of your project and — to be blunt — just holding a public meeting or two doesn’t cut it. In these times of required social distancing, many are only now starting to look at solutions for digital engagement. However, at CivicBrand digital engagement has been at the forefront of our approach for years.
There are many things to consider before you dive into digital engagement. The last thing you want to do is play IT for hundreds of frustrated stakeholders. Use our Digital Public Engagement Checklist to make sure you are checking all the boxes.