I am working on a project to increase public participation in local government decisions, especially around planning and community initiatives. Currently, it feels like only a small group of residents consistently engage, while many others do not seem to be aware of the opportunities to get involved or do not feel encouraged to do so.
I am looking for practical advice on strategies to broaden participation and make engagement more accessible and inclusive. Specifically, I am interested in any successful examples or methods, whether through digital platforms, community outreach or partnerships with local organizations.
What approaches have worked in your communities to engage a wider and more diverse group of residents? Are there tools or platforms you would recommend? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
I have already searched on this site https://www.socialpinpoint.com/10-community-engagement-tips-for-local-government-golang but I could not find anything helpful.
I thought this one would be really useful for you, particularly as you’re talking local. Also the OGP guys have a Local (as well as a National) group who use the slack app
Regardless of the perspective - Local, National or in OGP’s case, Global - the problem, as you so nicely put it, is the same for every open government initiative.
only a small group of residents consistently engage, while many others do not seem to be aware of the opportunities to get involved or do not feel encouraged to do so.
The OGP project’s approach is a nice one as it aims to, firstly, bring together a civil group from inside and outside a government and design commitments, and then continuously update their progress. So it doesn’t become a talk fest (if its done well).
Only the Scots do it around here. Neisha is my ideal archetype of a secretariat.
Enough for now. Hope that’s of some use. I can get more focussed if you give me your state in the USA. All the best, Simon
Well that was exciting. Thanks Michelle,
Must be something in the Scottish water. Just a note, as we attempt to bridge/aggregate the Local to the National.
Do these guys have any influence over what you’re doing?
If you view this progress, as I do, to co-designing more democratic institutions (and we all know we can’t use the privately-owned “social media”) then (excuse me, there are a lot of conversations going on in my world of building democratic infrastucture) then the comment that Ruchir made hits the nail on the head.
I’m interested, though currently in the position of seeking solutions for my own community where I’m a community councillor, rather being ready to offer solutions to others. Cheers. Martin
In East Lothian, Scotland, there are Area Partnerships where local residents have a small voice in local government decisions.
In my opinion, this method of engagement does not work due to token involvement of residents and a complicated voting structure.
Just a note, as we attempt to bridge/aggregate the Local to the National.