Why Community Engagement Matters
Community engagement is a way to involve the community in a variety of decisions processes, and programs. It’s an effective way to achieve long-term and sustainable outcomes.
It’s important to consider the community’s unique needs and plan for engagement accordingly. You can do this by learning about the community, its culture, social networks, economic conditions, and demographics.
It’s Sustainable
Community engagement is based on the democratic idea that everyone in a particular community should have a say in the decision-making around an issue affecting them. This democratic engagement is a fundamental part of building sustainable communities and helping governments and organizations provide better services and shape future visions that benefit all.
A critical element of community engagement is trust, and it is important to build this to make a difference in the long term. Researchers at the Edelman Trust have noted a trust gap growing across many developed nations.
This is especially true as governments, philanthropists, and nonprofit leaders shift resources to data-driven programs that promise meaningful progress against seemingly intractable social problems. But these programs will not work until they are rooted in and led by people who live in communities affected by these issues.
It’s Effective
Whether it’s an emergency plan, development project, or an ongoing relationship with stakeholders, community engagement is often the key to getting things done. It builds trust, understanding, and connection and helps to minimize risk.
This is especially important if you have a complex or controversial issue. For example, if your community is split between an emergency plan or a new policy, you must get their input and support from the start.
Engaging people early gives you a better idea of where the issues and concerns lie. That means you’ll be able to avoid political landmines later in your project, saving you months or even years of work.
It’s Fun
As we all know, having fun is important and often overlooked in the daily grind. But it can also have a massive impact on how we think, feel, and work.
Whether playing a sport, running through the park, or watching the sunset, the fun can help us forget our problems. It can even make our lives a little bit easier.
The same goes for community engagement. By creating a two-way dialogue and encouraging feedback and participation, you can create new working methods to save money and time and improve the quality of services your organization delivers.
It’s Effective for Business
Community engagement is one of the best ways a company can build customer trust and an excellent reputation. It’s also a way to ensure that the company is doing things right and that the people working for them are happy.
The first thing companies should do when they’re looking to engage their communities is define the community they want to be a part of. This will help them ensure that their engagement efforts are specific and relevant to the needs of the people involved in them.
Another important thing businesses should do when they’re looking to engage with their communities is to get them plugged in early on. This will help build momentum and save them time and energy from dealing with political landmines later in their project.
It’s Effective for the Government
A well-developed engagement process can help government agencies understand their communities and deliver projects and services that better meet the needs of the people they serve. It can also build trust in local organizations and governance.
When government and community leaders work collaboratively, they can identify issues early in a project to be addressed before they get out of hand. This helps avoid reworking projects that people are unhappy with or launching services that don’t fit the local context.
A comprehensive engagement approach ensures that governments, policy-makers, and decision-makers fully understand how their policies affect the lives of the people they serve. This enables them to make more relevant and equitable decisions for their communities, avoiding unforeseen consequences and creating relationships that hold the government accountable.