<![CDATA[APA Community Engagement Interest Group]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8RyO!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb3732909-a8e6-4431-b617-9ab323c9a949_250x250.pngAPA Community Engagement Interest Grouphttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.comSubstackSat, 05 Sep 2026 03:45:24 GMT<![CDATA[🌸Special Edition: Planning con Confianza]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/special-edition-planning-con-confianzahttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/special-edition-planning-con-confianzaWed, 26 Aug 2026 14:50:25 GMT

We’re excited to partner with the APA Latinos and Planning Division to offer Planning con Confianza: Community Engagement in Today’s Federal Landscape on September 9!

Check out the graphic below for all the webinar details. We’ve also included the information in text below the graphic for easy reading and accessibility.

We hope to see you there!

PLANNING CON CONFIANZA

Community Engagement in Today’s Federal Landscape

Heightened immigration enforcement is changing how planners engage with Latino communities.

As fear and uncertainty keep some residents away from traditional engagement spaces, planners are rethinking how they build trust and gather meaningful input.

Join the APA Latinos and Planning Division and the Community Engagement Interest Group for a conversation with planners from across the country on how they are adapting engagement strategies.

We’ll explore:

  • Building trust when traditional engagement falls short

  • Partnering with community organizations, faith groups, and trusted local leaders

  • The planning and economic consequences of disengagement

  • Practical strategies for meaningful, responsive outreach

Come ready to learn, reflect, and plan con confianza.

📅 Wednesday, September 9
⏰ 1:00 PM CST

👉 Register for the webinar: https://bit.ly/LAP_Confianza

Want to learn more about the APA Latinos and Planning Division? Check them out at https://latinos.planning.org.

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🎨Graphic Facilitation for Planners (No Drawing Skills Required!) and Replay of Moving Beyond “Room + Zoom”]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/graphic-facilitation-for-plannershttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/graphic-facilitation-for-plannersTue, 04 Aug 2026 15:09:46 GMT

💻Upcoming Webinar

Ever wondered how graphic facilitators seem to capture complex conversations with just a few simple sketches?

In this interactive webinar, planner and graphic facilitator Kristen Elkow will show you that visual communication isn't about artistic ability. It's about helping people understand complex ideas more clearly and participate more confidently.

You’ll learn simple, practical techniques you can start using right away to make planning conversations more engaging… even if stick figures are the extent of your artistic talents.

Bring your favorite markers and pens, some paper, and and a willingness to give it a try!

📅 Thursday, August 20, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM (MT)

👉 Register here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-words-visual-communication-for-better-engagement-tickets-1996628038210

Webinar Replay: Moving Beyond “Room + Zoom”

Hybrid engagement has become the norm for many planning projects, but simply adding a Zoom link to an in-person meeting doesn’t automatically create a more inclusive or effective engagement process.

In this webinar, co-chairs Chris Haller and Kelly Hickler, AICP and with special guest Ryan Mottau introduced the Designing Hybrid Engagement Guide, a practical framework for intentionally combining in-person and online engagement methods. Rather than viewing hybrid engagement as a single format, we explored how different combinations of synchronous and asynchronous participation can help remove barriers, reach broader audiences, and create a more connected engagement experience. Through real-world examples from communities across North America, we shared practical strategies for designing engagement that is more equitable, better coordinated, and easier to synthesize into meaningful results.

Key Takeaways

  • Hybrid engagement is a system, not a single event. The most successful projects intentionally combine multiple engagement methods instead of relying on a “Room + Zoom” approach alone.

  • Every engagement method has trade-offs. In-person meetings foster stronger relationships, while online and asynchronous options improve accessibility and flexibility. Effective engagement comes from choosing the right combination for your audience and project goals.

  • Design for synthesis from the beginning. Consider how feedback from workshops, surveys, pop-ups, websites, and other activities will be organized and analyzed before engagement begins, not after thousands of comments have been collected.

  • Accessibility benefits everyone. Mobile-friendly tools, captioned videos, multiple participation options, and thoughtful accommodations create a better experience for all participants, not just those with accessibility needs.

  • Technology should support the engagement strategy, not define it. Start by identifying your audience, objectives, and desired outcomes, then select the tools and techniques that best support those goals rather than letting available technology drive the process.

📺 Link to the replay: (and it’s worth 1.5 CM credits!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTkChgdbXwQ

⬇️ Download the Designing Hybrid Engagement guide at designinghybridengagement.com

💡Have an idea for a future webinar?

We’d love to hear it! Email us at hello@apacommunityengagement.org.

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[💻Moving Beyond “Room + Zoom” + Recaps of the Evolving IAP2 Spectrum and Members Listening Session]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/moving-beyond-room-zoom-recaps-ofhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/moving-beyond-room-zoom-recaps-ofThu, 02 Jul 2026 12:26:45 GMT

Upcoming Webinar: Moving Beyond “Room + Zoom”

(Originally scheduled for June 5, this webinar will now be held on July 9)

Join co-chairs Chris Haller and Kelly Hickler, AICP with special guest Ryan Mottau to learn how to intentionally design hybrid engagement and connect participation across time, place, and format to reduce barriers and strengthen outcomes.

Hybrid engagement has moved from a pandemic workaround to a defining part of planning practice. Yet for many teams, it still feels fragmented, hard to evaluate, and unclear in impact. This webinar introduces the Designing Hybrid Engagement guide and translates its core framework into practical application.

Participants will explore how engagement choices shape whose voices are heard, how input is interpreted, and how decisions are ultimately made. Drawing on real-world examples, the session highlights both successful approaches and common pitfalls, including “parallel track” engagement that separates in-person and online participation rather than connecting them.

📅 Thursday, July 9, 2026
⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM (ET)

👉 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vVpBBQcHRJGaN-m1WNYchA#/registration

Webinar Replay: The Evolving IAP2 Spectrum

The IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation has guided engagement practice for more than 25 years, but how should it evolve to better reflect today’s planning and engagement landscape? In this webinar, Dr. Cassie Hemphill shared the thinking behind the proposed evolution of the Spectrum and explored what the changes could mean for planning practitioners.

The session examined why the IAP2 Federation has been reviewing the framework, how feedback from practitioners around the world has shaped the proposed revisions, and how planners can begin thinking about applying the updated concepts in practice. Participants also discussed the implications for public engagement strategies, organizational processes, and communication with decision-makers.

NOTE: The changes discussed in this webinar are proposed and have not yet been finalized or approved by the IAP2 Federation Board at the time of the presentation. The session focused on the current draft recommendations and the thinking behind them, rather than a final adopted framework.

Key Takeaways

  • The proposed changes are an evolution, not a replacement. The goal is to build on the familiar IAP2 Spectrum while making it clearer, more globally applicable, and better aligned with contemporary engagement practice.

  • Sharing information is essential, but distinct from engagement. One of the biggest proposed changes separates “sharing information” from the degrees of public influence, emphasizing that informing the public is critical throughout a process but does not, by itself, create opportunities for influence.

  • Greater clarity around public influence and decision-maker commitments. The proposed framework places stronger emphasis on clearly communicating both the degree of influence the public has and the commitments decision-makers are making at each stage of engagement.

  • Language matters. Proposed terminology reflects feedback from practitioners across many countries, with the goal of reducing ambiguity, improving translation across cultures, and avoiding unintended interpretations of hierarchy.

  • Planning organizations should focus on alignment, not just terminology. Whether or not the revised Spectrum is ultimately adopted, the discussion encouraged agencies to evaluate whether their engagement language, promises, and practices accurately reflect the influence they are offering the public.

Results of attendee poll:

  • Out of 45 attendees, most were planners, representing local government or consulting firms.

  • 46% use the IAP2 Spectrum regularly.

  • 61% have not yet taken IAP2 training.

  • 88% are interested or potentially interested in additional IAP2 training.

📺 Link to the replay: https://youtu.be/me9XRczMNSM

⬇️ Download the IAP2 Spectrum Evolution: https://1drv.ms/b/c/e0ca6d72a4e797e9/IQBG_gS2-8kMTZDFRMp4zq-7AdF4XMpbtiSvGMxTFDKH1bY?e=iVi6B3

🌐 Visit the IAP2 website: https://www.iap2.org/page/SpectrumEvolution

📧 Email Cassie: cassie@confluencetraining.com

Recap of Our First Community Listening Session

Last week we hosted our first Community Listening Session and came away energized by the conversation. (Kelly even joined from her basement while trying to escape Europe’s heat wave and wrestle with a less-than-cooperative internet connection. Thankfully, she was still able to listen in!)

The session served as both a networking opportunity and a quarterly update on the Community Engagement Interest Group. Chris shared highlights from everything the group has accomplished over the past six months, including new webinars, conference events, partnerships, and the continued growth of our community to more than 550 members and 800+ LinkedIn followers. From there, the conversation turned to what comes next.

Participants shared thoughtful ideas about where they’d like to see the interest group grow. Several themes emerged:

  • More partnerships with other APA divisions and allied organizations to expand learning opportunities and reach new audiences.

  • More practical training focused on specific engagement methods, facilitation skills, and emerging topics.

  • Peer learning opportunities where practitioners can discuss real-world challenges, exchange ideas, and learn from one another in a more conversational setting.

  • Continued networking to build relationships across organizations, regions, and areas of practice.

One of the most valuable parts of the session was hearing what everyone is currently working on, from comprehensive plans and resident-led visioning to climate resilience, community development, and disaster recovery. It was a great reminder of the incredible range of engagement work happening across the profession.

If you couldn’t make this one, don’t worry. We’ll be hosting another Listening Session in September and hope you’ll join us to connect with fellow practitioners, hear updates from the interest group, and help shape what’s next. Keep an eye on the newsletter and LinkedIn for details.

📺 Link to the replay: https://youtu.be/FP67LRCRxR4

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🎯The New IAP2 Spectrum: What Planners Need to Know, Planning Academies Recap, and Members Listening Session]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/the-new-iap2-spectrum-what-plannershttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/the-new-iap2-spectrum-what-plannersFri, 12 Jun 2026 08:15:58 GMT

For more than 25 years, the IAP2 Spectrum has helped planners and engagement professionals explain public participation, set expectations, and design engagement processes. But many practitioners have also experienced its limitations and common misunderstandings.

Join Cassie Hemphill, Ph.D., engagement practitioner, IAP2 Licensed Trainer, and member of the international team leading the evolution of the Spectrum, for a guided exploration of the proposed changes and what they mean for planning practice.

This session will help you understand how one of the profession’s most widely used frameworks is evolving, and how it applies to comprehensive plans, zoning updates, corridor studies, advisory committees, and more. We’ll discuss how the updated framework aims to create greater clarity around public influence, decision-maker commitments, and engagement design.

Bonus Interactive Session: Following the one-hour presentation, participants are invited to stay for an optional 30-minute interactive exercise exploring how the updated Spectrum applies in real-world planning contexts.

📅 Weds, July 1, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:30 PM (MT)

👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-new-iap2-spectrum-what-planners-need-to-know-tickets-1991706152718

Join Our CEIG Listening Session & Community Check-In

Community engagement can be messy, exhausting, inspiring, frustrating, and deeply rewarding, sometimes all in the same week. That’s why we’re creating space for our community to connect, learn from one another, and help shape what’s next for CEIG.

Join us for an informal listening session and community check-in where you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Meet and network with fellow engagement practitioners from across the country
• Share challenges, successes, ideas, and questions from your current projects
• Learn what CEIG has been working on and what’s coming next
• Help identify future webinar topics, resources, and initiatives
• Provide feedback on how we can best support you

This is your community, and we want your voice to help shape its future! Whether you’re looking for advice, new connections, fresh ideas, or simply a chance to talk with people who understand the realities of engagement work, we’d love to have you join the conversation.

📅 Thursday, June 25, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM (MT)

👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/listening-session-tickets-1990473084578

Webinar Recap: Community Planning Academies

What happens when residents better understand how planning works?

That question was at the heart of our recent webinar on Community Planning Academies, featuring speakers from the Urban Institute, Baltimore, Englewood, and Sacramento.

The discussion explored how communities across the country are using planning academies, boot camps, and leadership programs to help residents understand planning processes, engage more effectively in local decisions, and build stronger relationships with local government.

Panelists shared a variety of models, from six-week resident academies to neighborhood-based boot camps, along with lessons learned about recruitment, curriculum design, alumni engagement, and measuring long-term impact.

A common theme emerged throughout the conversation: planning academies are about more than education. They help build civic capacity, create informed community leaders, improve transparency, and foster more meaningful participation in planning and development decisions.

If you’re considering launching a planning academy or looking to strengthen an existing program, this session offers practical ideas, real-world examples, and inspiration from communities that are already doing the work.

📺 Watch the replay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSqxSqqvsFY

Webinar Postponed: Moving Beyond “Room + Zoom”

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Moving Beyond “Room + Zoom” webinar scheduled for last Friday, June 5, had to be postponed.

We know many of you had planned to attend and may have received an invalid meeting link when attempting to join. Unfortunately, the postponement occurred very close to the scheduled start time, and we were unable to notify everyone in advance.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

We are already working to reschedule the session and will share the new date as soon as it is confirmed.

We remain excited to discuss the final release of the Designing Hybrid Engagement guide and invite you to download it at designinghybridengagement.com.

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[Webinar Postponed: Moving Beyond "Room + Zoom"]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/webinar-postponed-moving-beyond-roomhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/webinar-postponed-moving-beyond-roomFri, 05 Jun 2026 17:50:54 GMT

Due to unforeseen circumstances, today’s Moving Beyond “Room + Zoom” webinar has been postponed.

We know many of you had planned to attend and may have received an invalid meeting link when attempting to join. Unfortunately, the postponement occurred very close to the scheduled start time, and we were unable to notify everyone in advance.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

We are already working to reschedule the session and will share the new date as soon as it is confirmed.

We remain excited to discuss the final release of the Designing Hybrid Engagement guide and invite you to download it at designinghybridengagement.com.

Thank you for your patience and and look forward to connecting with you soon.

Kelly Hickler, AICP and Chris Haller
Co-Chairs, APA Community Engagement Interest Group

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[💻Moving Beyond "Room + Zoom" - See the Final Guide and Join Us Friday for the Webinar]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/moving-beyond-room-zoom-see-the-finalhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/moving-beyond-room-zoom-see-the-finalTue, 02 Jun 2026 09:33:06 GMT

In April, we shared the pre-release version of Designing Hybrid Engagement, a resource Chris and I co-authored to help teams create more intentional, connected, and equitable engagement across time and place.

Since then, we’ve gathered feedback through online comments and a live discussion session, and we’re excited to share that the final version of the guide is now available.

To celebrate the release, we’ll also be hosting a special webinar this Friday featuring guest speaker Ryan Mottau, Director of Digital Engagement at MIG.

📅 Friday, June 5
⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM (ET)

👉 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tMpBY-nMTQ-J26h6PK4Png#/registration

If you’ve ever felt like hybrid engagement could be more intentional, more connected, or simply easier to design and manage, we’d love to have you join the conversation.

About the Guide

Today, most engagement processes involve a mix of in-person meetings, online tools, surveys, workshops, pop-ups, and digital participation. But too often, these efforts feel fragmented, difficult to evaluate, and challenging to connect into one cohesive experience.

Designing Hybrid Engagement introduces a practical framework for thinking beyond individual tactics and designing engagement as a connected system.

The guide explores:

  • How different engagement methods work together

  • Where participation barriers may exist

  • The trade-offs between various engagement approaches

  • How to create more inclusive and intentional participation opportunities

Our goal was to create a resource that is practical, accessible, and grounded in how engagement actually happens in real-world projects today.

👉 Access the guide at: https://designinghybridengagement.com

We hope to see you Friday!

Kelly Hickler, AICP and Chris Haller
Co-Chairs, APA Community Engagement Interest Group

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🎓 Community Planning Academies + Atlanta Meetup + Plain Language for Better Participation Replay]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/community-planning-academies-atlantahttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/community-planning-academies-atlantaThu, 07 May 2026 10:34:14 GMT

Have you ever thought about starting a community planning academy but not sure where to begin? Or maybe you already have one but are curious about how others are running theirs? Then this webinar is for you! We will cover:

• How planning academies are structured
• The benefits of having a planning academy
• Challenges and lessons learned
• How programs have evolved over time, and
• Advice for others who are just getting started

And it's worth 1.5 CM credits 😁 You don't want to miss this!

📅 Thursday, May 14 | 12:00–1:30pm EDT
👉 Register now at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I03LtDKZQCeTYOG65rxKwQ#/registration

More info at https://planning.org/events/eventsingle/9327377

🍹Happy Hour Meetup in Atlanta

If you're in the Atlanta area, come hang out with co-chair Kelly Hickler, AICP and the Georgia Planning Association next Tuesday!

We'll be at the Side Saddle Wine Saloon from 5-7pm. There's a trivia night that starts at 7pm which you are welcome to stay for.

This is a great opportunity to learn about what our interest group is up to and meet other planners and community engagement enthusiasts in the region, as well as check out the recently completed Southside Trail portion of the Atlanta Beltline.

Drinks and food are self-funded, but the conversation is free 😉

Though not required, an RSVP will help us know how many people to expect.

Hope to see you there!

RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joint-happy-hour-with-georgia-planning-association-tickets-1988835147464?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

🗣️ Plain Language for Better Participation Replay

🎥 Watch the full replay: youtube.com/@Engaging-Communities

Lisa Orchard, founder of Scribe Technical, helped us unpack a deceptively simple idea: if people can’t understand what we’re saying, they can’t meaningfully participate.

Drawing on her 20 years of planning experience, Lisa shared how plain language and “civic clarity” can help planners communicate complex policies, regulations, and technical concepts in ways the public can actually find, understand, and use. Through examples of parking signs, public notices, meeting boards, staff report language, and planning jargon, she showed how small changes in wording, structure, layout, and visuals can make a big difference in public trust and participation.

Key Takeaways

  • Clarity is part of engagement. Public participation depends on people understanding what is being proposed, why it matters, and how they can respond.

  • Know your audience first. Before writing, identify who needs the information, what they already know, what they care about, and what you want them to do next.

  • Plain language is more than short sentences. It includes wording, structure, design, visuals, and usability.

  • Beware the “curse of knowledge.” Planners often forget that terms like “mixed use,” “TOD,” “placemaking,” or “stakeholder” may not mean the same thing to the public.

  • Make information scannable. Use clear headings, short paragraphs, bullets, tables, white space, and visuals to help busy readers find what matters.

Get in touch with Lisa at scribetechnical.co

🙋‍♂️Member Requests

Interest group member Mare Ralph, AICP recently started a research position at University of Illinois Chicago, working on ADA transition plans and the public right of way. Mare is currently gathering resources on civic engagement specifically for people with disabilities and would love if you would share any you’re aware of that fit this criteria. You can email Mare at mralph3@uic.edu.

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

📝 Member Survey

We’d love your feedback! This short survey (3-5 minutes) will help us understand what’s working, what could be improved, and where we should focus our efforts. Your responses directly shape our programming.

👉 Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqW8NfY2mXl2Up4wRzFHGe-Ff2sgZ1gCQk0SAnOUcgIQidlw/viewform

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🗣️Plain Language for Better Participation + Come See Us at NPC 26 + Podcasting for Community Engagement Replay]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/plain-language-for-better-participationhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/plain-language-for-better-participationThu, 09 Apr 2026 13:01:10 GMT

If people can’t understand what we’re saying, they can’t meaningfully participate.

In this upcoming session, we’ll explore how small shifts in language can make a big difference in helping communities better understand planning topics, engage more confidently, and build trust in the process.

Join us to learn practical ways to simplify complex information without losing accuracy.

Presented by Lisa D. Orchard, Founder and Principal Consultant at Scribe Technical, where she helps subject matter experts turn their complex technical documents into clear, persuasive communications.

📅 Wednesday, April 29 | 12:00–1:00pm MT
👉 Register now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/plain-language-for-better-participation-tickets-1987043456468?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

👋Come See Us at NPC 26 in Detroit!

APA Divisions Fair

Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 12:30 AM - 1:30 PM ET | Location: Marriott, HPCC, Hall A

APA Community Engagement IG Annual Meeting

Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM ET | Location: Marriott, Brule AB

APA Community Engagement IG Coffeeklatsch

Monday, April 27, 2026 | 7:30 AM - 8:30 PM ET | Location: HPCC, Food Court

Learn more at apacommunityengagement.org/events

🎙️Podcasting for Community Engagement Replay

🎥 Watch the full replay: youtube.com/@Engaging-Communities

If you’ve ever thought about starting a podcast to share stories, explain complex topics, or amplify community voices, this session walks you through how it actually works—step by step. In this live demo, we cover the full process from recording to publishing, using real tools and real workflows.

🔍 What you’ll learn:
• Podcasting basics (formats + when to use it)
• Simple recording setups (hardware)
• Editing tools like Descript and Audacity
• Publishing & distribution via Buzzsprout
• Interviewing techniques
• Promotion strategies

Follow Booked on Planning at bookedonplanning.com

🙋‍♂️Member Requests

Interest group member Mare Ralph, AICP recently started a research position at University of Illinois Chicago, working on ADA transition plans and the public right of way. Mare is currently gathering resources on civic engagement specifically for people with disabilities and would love if you would share any you’re aware of that fit this criteria. You can email Mare at mralph3@uic.edu.

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

📝 Member Survey

We’d love your feedback! This short survey (3-5 minutes) will help us understand what’s working, what could be improved, and where we should focus our efforts. Your responses directly shape our programming.

👉 Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqW8NfY2mXl2Up4wRzFHGe-Ff2sgZ1gCQk0SAnOUcgIQidlw/viewform

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[👀Sneak Peek of Designing Hybrid Engagement]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/sneak-peek-of-designing-hybrid-engagementhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/sneak-peek-of-designing-hybrid-engagementWed, 01 Apr 2026 18:18:34 GMT

In this special edition of our newsletter we have something we’ve been working on that we’re excited to share with you 🤩

Over the past several months, Chris and I have been co-authoring a new resource:
Designing Hybrid Engagement.

This guide grew out of conversations we’ve been having with planners and community engagement practitioners—through the APA Community Engagement Interest Group, conferences, and one-on-one discussions—going back to 2025.

Across those conversations, we noticed some common themes emerge. Teams are juggling in-person meetings, online tools, surveys, pop-ups, etc. but it often feels:

  • Disconnected

  • Hard to evaluate

  • Difficult to explain

  • Unclear if it was actually equitable

So we decided to create something that could help.

Introducing: Designing Hybrid Engagement

This guide offers a simple but practical framework for designing engagement across time and place, connecting in-person and online participation into a more cohesive, intentional system.

Instead of focusing on individual tactics, it helps you step back and think about:

  • How participation is structured

  • Where barriers exist

  • How different methods can work together

Our goal was to create something that is:

  • Useful in real-world practice

  • Accessible to a wide range of practitioners

  • Grounded in how engagement actually happens today

👀 Take a Look (and Interact with It)

We’re sharing the guide ahead of its official release and we’d genuinely love your feedback.

👉 Access the guide here: https://designinghybridengagement.com

You can explore it, and even leave comments directly on the pages.

💬 Join Us for a Live Feedback Session

We’re also hosting a short, informal session next week to hear your thoughts:

📅 Tuesday, April 7
⏰ 11:00–11:30 AM (MT)

👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-pre-release-feedback-session-tickets-1986436388712?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

This won’t be a formal presentation—it’s a working conversation.

We’d love to hear:

  • What resonates

  • What feels unclear

  • What’s missing

  • What would make this more useful in your work

If you’ve ever felt like hybrid engagement could be more intentional, more connected, or just easier to design, your perspective would be incredibly valuable.

✍️

Kelly Hickler, AICP and Chris Haller
Co-Chairs, APA Community Engagement Interest Group

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🎙How to Start a Podcast + Summary of Rural-Ready Engagement]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/how-to-start-a-podcast-summary-ofhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/how-to-start-a-podcast-summary-ofWed, 04 Mar 2026 21:56:45 GMT

Curious about starting a podcast but not sure where to begin? Podcasting is a powerful way to share ideas, amplify community voices, and make complex topics more accessible. Join us for a practical session featuring live demonstrations of the tools used to record, edit, and publish podcast episodes.

We’ll cover the basics of podcasting, budget-friendly equipment, interviewing tips, and how to distribute your podcast on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You’ll also see real workflows in action using tools like Descript, Audacity, and Buzzsprout.

No prior podcasting or technical experience required.

Featuring Stephanie Rouse and Jennifer Hiatt from the Booked on Planning podcast.

📅 Wednesday, March 11 | 12–1:15pm MT
👉 Register now to save your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/podcasting-for-community-engagement-tickets-1984504489349?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

🌾Summary of Rural-Ready Engagement: Practical Tools for Small Town Planners

🎥 Watch the full replay: youtube.com/@Engaging-Communities

Community engagement can look very different in small towns and rural communities. In places where residents see each other regularly at the café, church, or local ball field, relationships and trust often matter more than formal engagement processes.

In our February 25th webinar, John C. Shepard, AICP, Senior Planner at Marvin Planning Consultants and Vice-Chair of APA’s Small Town and Rural Planning Division, shared practical insights from his experience working with communities across rural America.

John discussed how planners can design engagement processes that fit smaller communities, balance data with local stories, and work effectively with limited staff and budgets. Rather than relying solely on formal meetings or traditional outreach methods, successful rural engagement often depends on building relationships, listening to local knowledge, and creating opportunities for ongoing conversation throughout the planning process.

Key Takeaways

  • Relationships matter most. In smaller communities, trust and personal connections often shape how residents engage with planning efforts.

  • Blend numbers with stories. Data and technical analysis are important, but local experiences and community narratives help make planning decisions meaningful.

  • Right-size your engagement. Engagement strategies should reflect the scale and capacity of smaller communities rather than copying big-city processes.

  • Use existing community networks. Informal gathering places, community organizations, and local leaders can play a key role in reaching residents.

  • Engagement doesn’t stop after adoption. Continuing conversations during implementation and follow-up builds trust and keeps plans relevant.

Stay in touch with John at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcshepard and https://jcshepard.com

Join the APA Small Town and Rural Division at https://smalltown.planning.org

📝 Member Survey

We’d love your feedback! This short survey (3-5 minutes) will help us understand what’s working, what could be improved, and where we should focus our efforts. Your responses directly shape our programming.

👉 Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqW8NfY2mXl2Up4wRzFHGe-Ff2sgZ1gCQk0SAnOUcgIQidlw/viewform

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🌾Rural-Ready Engagement + Building Belonging from the Inside Out]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/rural-ready-engagement-building-belonginghttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/rural-ready-engagement-building-belongingThu, 12 Feb 2026 14:28:15 GMT

💻Live Online Training

🌾 Rural-Ready Engagement: Practical Tools for Small Town Planners

Community engagement looks different when you run into residents at the café, ball field, or church. Join us for a one-hour webinar with John C. Shepard, AICP, Senior Planner at Marvin Planning Consultants and Vice-Chair of APA’s Small Town and Rural Planning Division, as he shares practical, low-cost strategies tailored for small towns and rural communities. You’ll walk away with concrete examples and ready-to-use ideas for comprehensive plans, zoning updates, and special projects.

📅 Wednesday, Feb 25 | 12–1pm MT
👉 Register now to save your spot
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rural-ready-engagement-practical-tools-for-small-town-planners-tickets-1982883930213?aff=oddtdtcreator

Building Belonging from the Inside Out: Summary of Introduction to Asset-Based Community Development

🎥 Watch the full replay: youtube.com/@Engaging-Communities

In our February 4th webinar, Eric Smith and Megan Ginn of CommunityWorks introduced planners and civic leaders to Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), a powerful shift from focusing on what’s wrong in a community to starting with what’s strong.

Rather than centering engagement on needs, deficits, or outside solutions, ABCD invites us to uncover and connect the gifts already present in neighborhoods. Through stories like Holland Heights in Michigan, where residents transformed a high-crime area into a thriving, resident-led community, we explored how belonging, trust, and “civic muscle” can become the foundation for lasting change.

The session emphasized that meaningful engagement isn’t about flying in with solutions, it’s about resourcing residents, building relationships, and moving at the speed of trust.

Key Takeaways

  • Shift from needs-based to asset-based thinking. Every community holds six core assets: individuals, associations, institutions, physical space, economy, and culture/history.

  • Start with residents as co-creators. Move beyond informing toward collaboration and empowerment whenever possible.

  • Build “civic muscle.” Small wins, neighborhood leadership, and connector roles strengthen long-term capacity.

  • Use simple tools to uncover hidden gifts. The “Gifts of the Head, Hands, and Heart” framework helps reveal what residents know, can do, and care deeply about.

  • Move at the speed of trust. Sustainable engagement begins with listening, clarity, and relationship-building.

Stay in touch with Megan by emailing at megan@comm-works.org or scheduling a free discovery call here!

🛠️ Additional resources:

The Community Building Hub is a national community of local leaders strengthening neighborhoods and connecting neighbors. If you’re looking to get connected to experienced leaders, access to practical tools, and live events to further your work, you can find out more and apply to join here.

📝 Member Satisfaction Survey

We’d love your feedback! This short survey (3-5 minutes) will help us understand what’s working, what could be improved, and where we should focus this year. Your responses directly shape our programming.

👉 Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqW8NfY2mXl2Up4wRzFHGe-Ff2sgZ1gCQk0SAnOUcgIQidlw/viewform

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[✨Asset-Based Community Development Training and a Chance to Shape Our 2026 Focus]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/asset-based-community-developmenthttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/asset-based-community-developmentThu, 15 Jan 2026 16:30:21 GMT

💻Live Online Training

What if community engagement started with strengths instead of gaps?

Join us for a free, 90-minute interactive introduction to Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) designed for civic and municipal leaders who want to move beyond surface-level engagement and build meaningful, productive relationships with their communities.

This session will explore how shifting from a needs-based lens to an asset-based approach can transform how you partner with residents and support community-led change.

In this session, you’ll:

  • Learn how to shift from a needs-based lens to an asset-based lens

  • Identify the six assets present in every community

  • Gain ready-to-use, practical resources you can apply right away

Following the 60-minute webinar, participants are invited to stay for a 30-minute hands-on practice session, where you’ll work alongside peers to use a tool for identifying resident capacities and learn how to facilitate it in your own community.

Featured Speakers

Eric Smith, Executive Director of CommunityWorks, has been living his purpose to “build flourishing communities in which ALL people can thrive" for over two decades. His career has taken him to serve in villages in East Africa, rural towns in Central Appalachia, and urban neighborhoods in Rust Belt cities. Eric holds a Master’s in Community Development from North Dakota State University and several professional certifications, including Community Heart & Soul and Asset Based Community Development.

Megan Ginn, Director of Community Building Strategies at CommunityWorks, helps communities strengthen neighborhoods at the speed of relationships. With a background in Social Work and asset-based community development, Megan weaves together stories and learning from on-the-ground leaders to implement best practices in neighborhoods.

About CommunityWorks

CommunityWorks unlocks the human and economic potential of neighborhoods through asset-based, relationship-driven practices. Through training, coaching, and practical tools, they support residents and local leaders in driving change from the inside out. Learn more at comm-works.org.

If you’re looking to deepen trust, elevate resident leadership, and reimagine what meaningful engagement can look like, this session is for you.

👉 Register now to save your spot
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-asset-based-community-development-abcd-tickets-1980636335597?aff=oddtdtcreator

📝 Member Satisfaction Survey

question mark neon signage

We’d love your feedback! This short survey (3-5 minutes) will help us understand what’s working, what could be improved, and where we should focus this year. Your responses directly shape our programming.

👉 Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqW8NfY2mXl2Up4wRzFHGe-Ff2sgZ1gCQk0SAnOUcgIQidlw/viewform

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org/events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

https://form.jotform.com/250356756901157

Follow Us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apa-community-engagement

Visit Us:

https://www.apacommunityengagement.org

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[💪Designing Strong Engagement, Member Satisfaction Survey, and Happy Holidays!]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/designing-strong-engagement-memberhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/designing-strong-engagement-memberThu, 18 Dec 2025 21:56:50 GMT

💪 What Strong Engagement Really Takes with Vince Verlaan

📺 Watch now on YouTube
🎧 Listen on our website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts

What does meaningful community engagement look like when the issues are complex, emotions are high, and the decisions actually matter? In our latest podcast episode, Kelly Hickler sits down with Vince Verlaan, an engagement and facilitation specialist with over 25 years of experience working with cities, utilities, nonprofits, and international organizations. Vince shares his philosophy of “strong engagement,” explains why internal organizational readiness is just as important as public outreach, and offers practical insights for planners and engagement professionals navigating challenging conversations.

Key Takeaways

1. Engagement starts inside the organization
Before going out to the public, organizations must align internally around goals, roles, and constraints. Without this preparation, even well-designed engagement efforts can fail.

2. Not all engagement is created equal
Vince distinguishes between light, transactional engagement and deeper, collaborative processes where community input genuinely influences outcomes. He focuses exclusively on the “engage zone,” where co-creation and shared ownership happen.

3. Facilitation requires both empathy and backbone
Effective facilitators balance listening and care with clarity, boundaries, and direction. Managing conflict and dominant voices is part of protecting equitable participation.

4. Engagement is fundamentally relational
Strong engagement isn’t about one-off meetings or surveys. It’s about building ongoing relationships that support better decisions and long-term implementation.

5. Process is a powerful lever for big challenges
From city planning to sustainability and budgeting, Vince emphasizes that good process, not just good policy, is essential for tackling complex, contested issues.

“Define what you mean by engagement and why you need it. If you don’t, engagement becomes a shiny bobble that fades when priorities change. Real engagement is relational.”
— Vince Verlaan

Links
• Vince Verlaan on LinkedIn
• engagefor2030.org
• powerskillsfor2030.org
• IAP2
• IAF World

📝 Member Satisfaction Survey

question mark neon signage

We’d love your feedback! This short survey (3-5 minutes) will help us understand what’s working, what could be improved, and where we should focus next year. Your responses directly shape our programming.

Take the Survey

🦌🦌🦌🎅🏻🛷 Happy Holidays ⛄❄️

We are so glad that you joined us this year and we are looking forward to continuing to build this community with you next year! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

Insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

Resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

Events

❓ Burning Questions

We’re happy to feature questions submitted by our members in the newsletter and on LinkedIn so you can share your insights, hear from peers, and learn from each other’s experiences. Submit your question now for a chance to be featured!

Submit a Question

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

Join

Follow Us:

LinkedIn

Substack

Visit Our Website:

Website

Give Us Input:

Survey

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🍪 Virtual Cookie Exchange, Human First Messaging, and Community Voices Recap]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/virtual-cookie-exchange-human-firsthttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/virtual-cookie-exchange-human-firstMon, 17 Nov 2025 15:21:48 GMT

🍪 Join us for a Virtual Community Cookie Exchange!

Let’s end the year on a sweet note! We may not be able to share cookies in person, but we can swap our favorite recipes. Join us for this fun virtual mixer, and be ready to share:

  1. A favorite cookie recipe (extra credit if it comes with a good story!)

  2. Your “ingredients” for making this interest group even more successful next year

👉 Save you space now on Eventbrite

👀 Also keep your eyes peeled for an end of year survey coming soon.

If you have any feedback in the meantime, please let us know at hello@apacommunityengagement.org

🎙️ New Podcast Episode!

In this latest episode, host Kelly Hickler talks with Katie Evans, Senior Communications Strategist at Woodard & Curran, about what it really means to make public communication human-centered — from translating technical jargon into plain language to running effective listening sessions that build trust.

They dive into:

  • How to turn required notices into meaningful messages

  • The art of listening without defending

  • Why every project should start with impact

  • Creative ways to boost participation (yes, food helps!)

If you’ve ever struggled to get people to care, show up, or understand why your work matters, this episode is for you.

📺 Watch now on YouTube
🎧 Listen on our website, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts
🔗 Connect with Katie Evans on LinkedIn

💬 Community Voices Recap: Youth Are Not the Future, But the Now

Young people aren’t just tomorrow’s leaders—they’re shaping communities today. In this inspiring session, panelists shared practical strategies for bringing youth into planning processes as active collaborators, not passive participants. From creative projects like “The Floor is Lava” to mentorship and advisory roles that turn ideas into action, speakers highlighted how authentic, trauma-informed engagement builds trust and empowers youth to co-create better cities now—not later.

🎥 Watch the replay
📖 Read the summary

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

Insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

Resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

Events

❓ Burning Questions

We’re happy to feature questions submitted by our members in the newsletter and on LinkedIn so you can share your insights, hear from peers, and learn from each other’s experiences. Submit your question now for a chance to be featured!

Submit a Question

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

Join

Follow Us:

LinkedIn

Substack

Visit Our Website:

Website

Give Us Input:

Survey

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[💬 Youth Are Not the Future, But the Now with Corrin Wendell & APA CA Pop-Up Podcast]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/youth-are-not-the-future-but-thehttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/youth-are-not-the-future-but-theFri, 17 Oct 2025 15:06:22 GMT

💬 Community Voices: Youth Are Not the Future, But the Now

Youth are not just the future, they are key voices in today’s planning decisions. This interactive Community Voices panel discussion led by Corrin Wendell, AICP will highlight practical, tested methods for involving young people in planning processes that matter to them and their communities.

✨ Featured Speakers:

🔹 Corrin Wendell, AICP
Corrin is the Founder and Executive Director of YEP! Youth Engagement Planning and a Children’s Book Author of “Ava Tanner, the City Planner.” YEP! is a national and international award-winning non-profit organization focused on educating young people in grades K-12 about urban planning and civic engagement.
LinkedIn | Website

More speakers to be announced!

👉 What to Expect:
After the presentation, we’ll open up the space for interactive discussion. Depending on group size, we’ll either host smaller breakout rooms with each panelist or continue with a moderated large-group Q&A.

Bring your curiosity and your questions. We can’t wait to see you there!

💻 Hosted on Zoom
📅  Wednesday, October 29, 2025
🕓 10:30 – 11:30 AM MDT

➡️ Register on Eventbrite

🎙️ APA California Pop-Up Podcast

Co-chair Kelly Hickler brings you a fun Pop-Up Podcast straight from the APA California in Monterey! Watch this short video now to see what people said.

▶️ Watch on YouTube

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

Insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

Resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

Events

❓ Burning Questions

We’re happy to feature questions submitted by our members in the newsletter and on LinkedIn so you can share your insights, hear from peers, and learn from each other’s experiences. Submit your question now for a chance to be featured!

Submit a Question

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

Join

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Visit Our Website:

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hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🤝Meet & Greet, Unconference & Happy Hour in Monterey, & Masterminds Recap]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/meet-and-greet-unconference-and-happyhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/meet-and-greet-unconference-and-happyWed, 17 Sep 2025 01:25:08 GMT

Table of Contents

  1. 🤝Meet & Greet

  2. 💭Unconference & 🍹Happy Hour at APA California in Monterey

  3. 🧠Masterminds Recap

🤝Meet & Greet

Join the APA Community Engagement Interest Group for a virtual Meet & Greet where community engagement professionals and enthusiasts come together to connect, exchange ideas, and support one another. We’ll use breakout rooms to spark small-group conversations and make space for deeper connections. This is a great opportunity to grow your network and build a supportive community you can turn to when facing engagement challenges.

💻 Hosted on Zoom
📅  Wednesday, September 24, 2025
🕓 1:00 – 2:00 PM PST

➡️ Register on Eventbrite

💭Unconference & 🍹Happy Hour at APA California in Monterey

💭 Co-chairs Kelly Hickler and Chris Haller will be hosting an Unconference in the unconference space at APA California in Monterey! Participants will have the opportunity to help shape the conversation by suggesting and leading subtopics under each theme below.

🗓️ Themes & Times:

Monday, Sept. 29
🔹 10:15–11:30am – Community Engagement
🔹 3:00–4:15pm – Climate Change & Adaptation

Tuesday, Sept. 30
🔹 2:30–3:45pm – Housing

🎙️ Kelly will also be recording a Pop-up Podcast during the conference. Stop by and say hi for a chance to be featured!

🍹 After a day of learning, join us for a fun and casual Community Engagement Happy Hour at Sly McFly's Refueling Station in the heart of the famous Cannery Row to network, mingle, and unwind. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to network and enjoy a free drink, hosted by the APA Community Engagement Interest Group and sponsored by Konveio.

Stay afterwards to party with the official APA band, Plan-it Rock!

📅 Monday, September 29, 2025
🕖 7:00 - 8:30pm PDT
📍 Sly McFly's Refueling Station, 700 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940

➡️ RSVP on Eventbrite

🧠Masterminds Recap

At our August Masterminds session, a small but mighty group gathered to talk about the ins and outs of hybrid community meetings: what works, what doesn't, and how to strike a balance between in-person and virtual participation.

Participants shared how their teams support hybrid meeting facilitation across departments. They discussed real-world challenges like managing tech tools (like the Owl camera), accessibility and interpretation logistics, and the varying experiences of virtual vs. in-person attendees.

The group reflected on key questions:

  • When does a hybrid meeting make sense?

  • How can we make virtual attendees feel equally included?

  • What tools and formats help create quality, interactive experiences?

From satellite locations and breakout rooms to sticky notes and whiteboards, participants shared creative solutions and candid lessons learned. Everyone agreed: hybrid engagement requires thoughtful design, more staffing, and lots of testing, but can be a powerful tool for inclusion when done right.

🧐 Read the full recap on LinkedIn

Masterminds is a collaborative, real-time problem-solving session where participants take turns sharing challenges and crowdsourcing solutions. Whether you’re new to engagement or a seasoned pro, this is a place to learn with and from your peers.

We encourage participants to share potential discussion topics on this form.

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

Insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

Resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

Events

❓ Burning Questions

We’re happy to feature questions submitted by our members in the newsletter and on LinkedIn so you can share your insights, hear from peers, and learn from each other’s experiences. Submit your question now for a chance to be featured!

Submit a Question

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

Join

Follow Us:

LinkedIn

Substack

Visit Our Website:

Website

Give Us Input:

Survey

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[📈 Trend Talks Recap, Next Masterminds Meeting, Podcast About Grounded Leadership, & more!]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/trend-talks-recap-next-mastermindshttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/trend-talks-recap-next-mastermindsThu, 07 Aug 2025 20:31:16 GMT

Table of Contents

  1. 📈 Trend Talks Recap

  2. 🧠 Join Us For the Next Masterminds

  3. 🎙️ EngagingCommunities Podcast: Grounded Leadership

📈 Trend Talks Recap

In our first-ever Trend Talks on July 30, community engagement professionals gathered to explore a big question: What are we actually trying to achieve through engagement?

Led by Nader Afzalan, Ph.D. and moderated by Kelly Hickler, AICP, IAP2, the discussion surfaced five emerging trends, such as shifting toward outcome-driven engagement, the need to address engagement fatigue, and the importance of building trust through long-term relationships.

🧐 Read the full recap on LinkedIn

📺 Watch the recording on YouTube

🧠 Join Us For the Next Masterminds

Masterminds is a collaborative, real-time problem-solving session where participants take turns sharing challenges and crowdsourcing solutions. Whether you’re new to engagement or a seasoned pro, this is a place to learn with and from your peers.

We encourage participants to share potential discussion topics on this form.

🎙️ Moderated by Chris Haller

💻 Hosted on Zoom
📅  Wednesday, August 27, 2025
🕓 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Mountain Time (Denver)

Register

🎙️ EngagingCommunities Podcast: Grounded Leadership

On this episode of EngagingCommunities, join host Kelly Hickler as she chats with Abe Herman, the outgoing mayor of Grand Junction, Colorado — and possibly the only rock climbing mayor you’ll meet. Abe shares how he went from outdoor educator and small business owner to elected office, and how he’s navigated community engagement as a policymaker without a traditional planning background.

We dive into the challenges of balancing vocal public feedback with broad community needs, navigating polarized conversations with respect, and rolling out a controversial traffic calming pilot in Grand Junction’s award-winning downtown. Abe brings honesty, humility, and humor to a conversation that reminds us what true public service looks like, and why local government can be both frustrating and inspiring.

📺 Watch on YouTube

🎧 Listen on Spotify or Apple

📩 Contact Abe Herman on LinkedIn

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

Insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

Resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

Events

❓ Burning Questions

We’re happy to feature questions submitted by our members in the newsletter and on LinkedIn so you can share your insights, hear from peers, and learn from each other’s experiences. Submit your question now for a chance to be featured!

Submit a Question

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

Join

Follow Us:

LinkedIn

Substack

Visit Our Website:

Website

Give Us Input:

Survey

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[💬 Community Voices Recap, Happy Hour at Esri UC, Trend Talks, Podcast About Community Driven Design, & more!]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/community-voices-recap-happy-hourhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/community-voices-recap-happy-hourTue, 08 Jul 2025 18:01:31 GMT

Table of Contents

  1. 💬 Community Voices Recap

  2. 🍹 Happy Hour at Esri UC

  3. 📈 Trend Talks

  4. 🎙️ EngagingCommunities Podcast: Community Driven Design

💬 Community Voices Recap

💡 On June 25, we had an inspiring panel who talked about building trust, strategy, and creativity into community engagement, featuring:

🔹 Vince Verlaan on designing a strong strategy from the start
🔹 Christine Edwards Pitkin, MPA on stakeholder mapping that builds trust
🔹 Fatima Elkott on creative, grassroots engagement that centers people

🧐 Read a summary and download the slides on LinkedIn

📺 Watch the recording on YouTube

🎙️ Moderated by Kelly Hickler, AICP, IAP2 of Cinnovation Studio
🙏 Thanks to our sponsor Konveio

🍹 Happy Hour at Esri UC

Join us for a fun and casual Community Engagement Happy Hour during the ESRI User Conference in San Diego to network, mingle, and unwind after a day of learning. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to connect with fellow planners, professionals, and enthusiasts and enjoy a free drink in a relaxed setting right on the water at the conference venue. Hosted by the APA Community Engagement Interest Group and sponsored by Konveio. See you there!

📍 Joe's Crab Shack, behind the San Diego Conference Center
📅  Tuesday, July 15, 2025
🕓 4:00 – 6:00 pm PDT

Register

📈 Trend Talks

Trend Talks is an interactive meet & greet that blends networking with a look ahead. Come ready to connect with fellow community engagement professionals, share your experiences, and explore new ideas and industry trends.

👉 What to Expect:
In the first half, Nader will give an overview of trends happening in the world of community engagement. In the second half, Kelly will open up the space for discussion and networking. Depending on group size, we may host smaller breakout rooms.

🎙️ Moderated by Nader Afzalan, Ph.D. and Kelly Hickler, AICP, IAP2
🚀 Powered by Konveio

💻 Hosted on Zoom
📅  Wednesday, July 30, 2025
🕓 12:00 – 1:00 PM Mountain Time (Denver)

Register

🎙️ EngagingCommunities Podcast: Community Driven Design

Check out the very first in-person episode of EngagingCommunities (formerly known as EngagingCities Fireside Chats) the official podcast of the APA Community Engagement Interest Group. Join host Kelly Hickler as she chats with Nora Bland and Laura Doherty from Cushing Terrell, a multidisciplinary design firm based in Denver. Together, they explore what community driven design really looks like in practice, from creative outreach methods to project wins (and missteps) that shaped better outcomes. Topics include:

  • Engaging communities early and often in the design process

  • Hosting design workshops with building blocks, games, and even Monopoly money

  • Turning conflict into collaboration through shared values

  • Why skipping feedback loops leads to mistrust, and how to prevent that

  • What “living well” really means in workforce housing design

Plus: A behind-the-scenes story from a rural Colorado planning project that almost went off the rails, and what brought the community back together.

📺 Watch on YouTube

🎧 Listen on Spotify or Apple

📩 Contact Nora Bland

📩 Contact Laura Dougherty

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

Insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

Resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

Events

❓ Burning Questions

We’re happy to feature questions submitted by our members in the newsletter and on LinkedIn so you can share your insights, hear from peers, and learn from each other’s experiences. Submit your question now for a chance to be featured!

Submit a Question

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

Join

Follow Us:

LinkedIn

Substack

Visit Our Website:

Website

Give Us Input:

Survey

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[📣 Community Voices Panel Session, Question of the Month, Masterminds Recap, & more!]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/community-voices-panel-session-questionhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/community-voices-panel-session-questionFri, 06 Jun 2025 12:19:53 GMT

💬 Community Voices

Community Voices is a moderated panel series hosted by the APA Community Engagement Interest Group. It's designed to spotlight diverse practitioners and thought leaders in the field of community engagement, offering participants the chance to:

  • Hear real-world experiences and timely insights

  • Ask questions and engage directly with panelists

  • Be part of honest, energizing conversations on the ideas shaping the future of engagement

This session’s theme:
🎯 Designing Meaningful Engagement from the Ground Up
We all know a creative engagement tactic is only as good as the strategy behind it. This session will highlight what it takes to move beyond surface-level outreach and build engagement that’s intentional, equitable, and impactful.

✨ Featured Speakers:

🔹 Vince Verlaan – Principal/Founder at Engage For 2023
Vince will share actionable insights for creating a strong engagement strategy from the outset, because no amount of creative outreach can fix a weak foundation. He’ll offer key elements of a robust strategy, pitfalls to avoid, and lessons from real projects across Canada.
More on Vince | Engage For 2023

🔹 Christine Edwards Pitkin, MPA – Founder & CEO of Civility Localized
Christine will walk through the power of stakeholder mapping, drawing on her experience leading Civic Impact Academy trainings. She’ll also showcase how her firm successfully partners with local ambassadors, such as college students and neighborhood connectors, to build trust and extend reach throughout North Carolina.
More on Christine | Civility Localized

🔹 Fatima Elkott – Founder of Conscious Community Connectors
Fatima will share creative methods for reaching underrepresented and historically excluded communities, including what it looks like to meet people where they are and design outreach that resonates. She’ll reflect on how to build community trust through culturally rooted engagement in Florida.
More on Fatima | Conscious Community Connectors

👉 What to Expect:
Each speaker will give a 10-minute presentation filled with practical tips and how-tos, project examples, and real talk about what went well and what didn't. After the presentations, we’ll open up the space for interactive discussion. Depending on group size, we’ll either host smaller breakout rooms with each panelist or continue with a moderated large-group Q&A.

Whether you’re a newcomer to community engagement or a seasoned pro, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, validation, and actionable takeaways.

Bring your curiosity and your questions. We can’t wait to see you there!

🗓️ Wednesday, June 25, 2025
⏰ 12–1 PM Mountain Time (Denver)
📌Register now at Eventbrite

❓ Question of the Month

Each month we feature a question submitted by one of our members. This month’s question comes from Alan Oviedo:

“How can we transform cities by engaging underserved and disadvantaged communities where engagement has been used negatively to ‘check off a box’ and there is a need to rebuild trust with planning for a equitable, inclusive future?”

Join the conversation on LinkedIn now!

Submit your question below for a chance to be featured next month.

Submit a Question

🧠 Masterminds Recap

“People will always ask, ‘Did you reach enough people?’ But what really matters is who you reached, how you reached them, and what you did with what they shared.”

That was just one reflection from our Masterminds session on May 21, 2025 where community engagement professionals came together to workshop real challenges.

Key takeaways included:
✅ Using stories and visuals to make the case for engagement
✅ Designing creative, inclusive activities that go beyond the basics
✅ Closing the loop by clearly showing how public input shaped decisions

View the complete recap now on LinkedIn.

👉 Got a challenge or theme idea for a future session? We’d love to hear from you!

📢 Community Driven Content

Our content is powered by our members. Click on the links below to get inspired by what others are doing, and don’t hesitate to add your own voice! We’re always looking for new ideas, success stories, resources, and events from our members!

💡 Insights

Explore stories, strategies, and standout work from community engagement professionals across our network.

Insights

📚 Resources

Browse our curated library of tools, guides, and best practices to support your community engagement work.

Resources

📅 Events

View online and in-person events designed to keep our community connected and learning from one another.

Events

👉 We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join Us:

Join

Follow Us:

LinkedIn

Substack

Visit Our Website:

Website

Give Us Input:

Survey

Email Us:

hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

]]><![CDATA[🧠 Join us for Masterminds: Wednesday, May 21st, 2025, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM MDT]]>https://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/join-us-for-masterminds-wednesdayhttps://apacommunityengagement.substack.com/p/join-us-for-masterminds-wednesdayFri, 16 May 2025 17:08:57 GMT

Join our Masterminds session: a collaborative, real-time problem-solving space where participants take turns sharing challenges and crowdsourcing solutions. Whether you’re new to engagement or a seasoned pro, this is a place to learn with and from your peers. Registration is free!

📅 Wednesday, May 21st, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM MDT
💬 Facilitated by Kelly Hickler, AICP, IAP2
🔗 Register here

📌 First half theme:
Making Engagement Meaningful (and Visible) in Planning

Community engagement is too often undervalued, underfunded, or treated as a checkbox in planning processes. Many of us feel pressure to justify engagement work internally, or face barriers when trying to integrate meaningful engagement into agency priorities, budgets, or timelines.

We’ll spend the first half of the session exploring how to:
✅ Advocate for engagement within departments or agencies
✅ Overcome limited support or funding
✅ Move beyond surface-level input
✅ Communicate the value of engagement to decision-makers

📌 Second half:
Open floor! Bring any community engagement challenge you'd like to unpack with the group.

Bring a challenge. Get fresh ideas. Leave with new energy (and a few “aha” moments).

👉We Want YOU! Join Us Now!

Membership is free and open to anyone, regardless of APA membership status.

Join:

Join

Follow:

LinkedIn

Substack

Give Input:

Survey

Want to get involved in the leadership team or contribute content? Let us know! We’re building this group together.

Email Us: hello@apacommunityengagement.org

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

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