Rethinking the Systems of Public Engagement

Over the last twenty years, local officials have pioneered many new engagement processes, tools, and techniques. Some of them are highly intensive, deliberative discussions with citizens. Others are fast, convenient, information-rich digital tools; still others are online networks that add technological dexterity to the power of face-to-face relationships. Many of these innovations are not only satisfying citizens, they also demonstrate the potential of public engagement for helping officials make difficult decisions and solve formidable problems. But so far, these innovations have been pursued primarily on a temporary, ad hoc basis, and have not been incorporated into the way that governments – or citizens – operate on a day-to-day basis. As a result, in most places the system of conventional engagement remains intact. A number of cities on the “leading edge” of innovation in public engagement have grappled with this challenge. They include Hampton, Virginia, Decatur, Georgia, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and Fort Collins, Colorado. In these cities, officials are asking: What are the main elements involved in moving from good engagement exercises to better engagement systems