Public Engagement Plan

Our Public Engagement Plan is one of many pieces necessary to implement Thrive MSP 2040. It establishes principles and processes for public engagement to ground Council decisions in the needs of community stakeholders and to engage people in the decision-making process.

The plan was created collaboratively with members of the Community Engagement Steering Committee, a group of organizations initially formed to support the Corridors of Opportunity/Partnership for Regional Opportunity efforts. More about the process.

Defining engagement

Engagement is the act of intentionally organizing individuals, communities, constituencies and organizations to help the Council generate ideas, better understand issues, identify concerns and considerations, and help with problem-solving. Organizing can be done through many different avenues:

  • Websites
  • Meetings
  • Events
  • One-on-one conversations
  • Community conversations

In contrast to outreach, engagement is relational and ongoing, or multi-directional interactions. Engagement moves beyond simply identifying “who” we need to reach out to and embraces a strategic approach to building lasting relationships.

Engagement principles

  • Equity: residents and communities are partners in decision-making.

  • Respect: residents and communities should feel heard and their interests included in decisions.

  • Transparency: residents and communities should be engaged in planning and decisions should be open and widely communicated.

  • Relevance: engagement occurs early and often throughout a process to assure the work is relevant to residents and communities.

  • Accountability: residents and communities can see how their participation affects the outcome; specific outcomes are measured and communicated.

  • Collaboration: engagement involves developing relationships and understanding the value residents and communities bring to the process. Decisions should be made with people, not for people.

  • Inclusion: Engagement should remove barriers to participation that have historically disengaged residents and communities.

  • Cultural competence: Engagement should reflect and respond effectively to racial, ethnic, cultural and linguistic experiences of residents and communities.

Highlights of our engagement work