This one is pretty simple, but online community engagement and public participation can be so much fun. You have the opportunity to fuel big dreams, talk about community aspirations, and brainstorm with your neighbours. Social Pinpoint can be used to create fun and exciting online engagement for your community or host some interesting activities for a younger audience.

Input on community initiatives needs to be gathered from a diverse and representative group in the community. When engagement projects are inundated with input from those with the loudest voice or the strongest opinion, the outcomes are only beneficial to one group and can be detrimental to the community as a whole. Without allowing a diverse set of perspectives to be aired, decision-makers can be swayed by the loudest voices and put their focus in the wrong areas. You should seek out marginalized or overlooked voices and create avenues for people of all backgrounds, motivations, and persuasions to speak up. That will give you a balanced understanding of the community’s views and enhance the value of the final decision.

Community members have a deep and intimate knowledge of their local area, as well as scientific, technical, historical, and cultural insights. When these perspectives are shared between all parties and incorporated into decision-making, public decision-makers are better informed, more confident, and able to meet all needs. The flow-on effect is increased community trust in organizations and governance to make better public decisions. By establishing communicative relationships between your organization and the community.