Client:

Delaware County Planning Department

Project Summary:

Public Engagement Education, Delaware County

Cooperative event between Connect the Dots and Delaware County, teaching professional planners and municipal officials to use public outreach with a workshop component.

Our challenge was to organize a workshop for a diverse, broadly-skilled group. Here are some of the approaches we brought to the table:

• Create worksheets and tools that are easily teachable
• Teach basic engagement thinking
• Encourage innovation and creativity
• Bolster support for future engagement as part of larger process
• Normalize community outreach

Process:

Delaware County Planning Department asked Connect the Dots to lead a workshop that taught civic leaders and community members about thoughtful and concerted public participation.

Most attendees were new to the concept of creative engagement and found it to be eye-opening.

The County reports that it is seeing the beginnings of a culture shift to better community outreach, resulting in better-supported projects and shorter timelines.

Outcomes:

• Helped community members become familiar with techniques and creative planning
• Positive feedback from county officials about toolkits and format
• Carefully-crafted groupings to enable conversation

Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Society