BRIGHT SPOTS IN

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

with support from

Some U.S. communities are building greater civic participation

from the bottom up. Analysis of 14 U.S. Cities and deeper case

studies of four reveal successes and challenges in creating

community bright spots.

OVERVIEW:

Photo credit: Knight Foundation

• The best examples change policy

and unite diverse groups

• The more segments of the community

you involve the greater the benefits

• New tools, especially tech tools, are

key to drawing in a range of citizens

• Sustained engagement translates

into economic gains

• Biggest challenges: scaling and

sustaining best practice

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM SCANS

OF 14 CITIES:

Photo credit: flickr.com/alexknowshtml

These bright spots have started movements to foster attachment,

expand information access and motivate people to play a larger

role in their communities.

• Philadelphia, PA

• St. Paul, MN

• Austin, TX

• Boston, MA

• Charlotte, NC

• Chicago, IL

• Hampton, VA

• Richmond, VA

• Hartford, CT

• Macon, GA

• Decatur, GA

• San Jose, CA

• Akron, OH

• Detroit, MI

Photo credit: Detroit Kiva

Engage people

around community

challenges and

problem-solving

Detroit: Kiva Detroit is focused on

economic development in low-income

neighborhoods.

LESSON #1

Photo credit: flickr.com/GroundworkCDS

Plan programs to

involve a broad

spectrum of people,

including the

hard-to-reach.

Chicago: The city’s 49th ward

engaged a broad and diverse

audience in policy decisions related

to participatory budgeting.

LESSON #2

Photo credit: flickr.com/Kara La Fleur

Use new tools and

strategies that tap

into the power of

technology.

Philadelphia: Embarked on an open

data initiative by engaging a civically

minded tech community to help city

development efforts.

LESSON #3

Photo credit: flickr.com/austintexasgov

Focus on sustainable

efforts that use a

range of strategies.

Austin: Imagine Austin defines a vision

and framework for all residents to grow

and develop the city using in-person

and online tools and strategies.

LESSON #4

• Use open data to engage residents and improve lives

• Unite different sectors (i.e. government and tech)

for innovative problem solving

• Use city visioning and strategic planning as a traditional

but useful way to engage lots of people – for a short time

• Employ participatory budgeting to engage communities

• Equip people to participate toward sustainability,

i.e. developing leadership or parenting skills

SUMMING UP: KEY TOOLS AND

TACTICS FOR BUILDING BRIGHT SPOTS

Photo credit: Crossroads Charlotte

SUMMING UP: WAYS TO

TACKLE CHALLENGES

• Achieving scale: create strong networks to reshape

institutions and systems.

• Reconciling community divisions: mix available tools

(including tech) to chart new paths

• Responding to change: develop built-in plans for adapting

and implementing initiatives beyond leadership transitions

Photo credit: Knight Foundation

BRIGHT SPOTS IN

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

with support from

knightfoundation.org | @knightfdnnlc.org | @leagueofcities

Photo credit: flickr.com/DetroitWorksLongTerm