Why a Community Engagement Presence is Relevant Now More than Ever!

Community engagement is based on the democratic idea that everyone who is affected by an issue that impacts their community should have a say in the decision making around it. It, moreover, holds the promise that public participation can influence decisions that affect the provision of services, future visions and sustainability of our communities.

There is no such particular definition for the term, but the idea is quite valid and the above-mentioned explanation does justice to it.

There has to be public, citizen and political levels of participation to empower a society. Community engagement takes a variety of forms. The four types are:

• Community engagement with a focus on community development or community building

• Community participation in consultation and decision-making

• Community engagement that helps organizations, businesses, etc. to improve their service delivery or to achieve their goals

• Community engagement as part of social change movements or as part of the work of voluntary community organizations

Atlee et al (2009) have identified seven principles of public engagement which are useful when thinking about engaging the community in consultation and decision making.

1. CAREFUL PLANNING AND PREPARATION

   Through adequate and inclusive planning, ensure that the design, organization, and convening of the process serve both a clearly defined purpose and the needs of the participants.

2. INCLUSION AND DEMOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY
   Equitably incorporate diverse people, voices, ideas, and information to lay the groundwork for quality outcomes and democratic legitimacy.

3. COLLABORATION AND SHARED PURPOSE
   Support and encourage participants, government and community institutions, and others to work together to advance the common good.

4. OPENNESS AND LEARNING
   Help all involved listen to each other, explore new ideas unconstrained by predetermined outcomes, learn and apply information in ways that generate new options, and rigorously evaluate public engagement activities for effectiveness.

5. TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST
   Be clear and open about the process, and provide a public record of the organizers, sponsors, outcomes, and range of views and ideas expressed.

6. IMPACT AND ACTION
   Ensure each participatory effort has real potential to make a difference, and that participants are aware of that potential.

7. SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATORY CULTURE
   Promote a culture of participation with programs and institutions that support ongoing quality public engagement.

As you can see, community engagement can be complex and labor-intensive and require dedicated resources such as time, funding, and people with the necessary skills. Given the current climate of our nation, citizens and leaders in communities across the United States, and indeed in many parts of the world, are struggling to make the right choices for the communities and issues they address. Building and implementing effective strategies requires a solid grounding in the best tools, techniques, and information available. Having effective community engagement initiatives is a pivotal way to not only increase your brand presence, but also create a social responsibility platform that produces sustainable change within your community, city, state, and possibly the nation or world.

Therefore, ask yourself the following questions if you have not already done so.

1. Which of the four types of community engagement or participation aforementioned should my business or organization participate in 2021?

2. What are the marketing and communication efforts needed to inform and seek feedback and active participation from key stakeholders and communities my business or organization serves?

3. What dedicated resources will be needed to drive my community engagement initiatives (i.e. – time, funding, staff, etc.).

4. How does community engagement align with my business or organization’s mission and vision statements?

Now that you have answered the above questions, are you confident that you can create a solid community engagement strategy for your business and/or organization? If not, please do not hesitate to contact us TODAY at hiveconnex@gmail.com or (267) 420-2076. Please visit our website at www.hiveconnex.com for more information about the services we offer.

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