Adebukola Dada’s Post

🔍 Genuine community engagement goes beyond town halls and surveys. It's about collaborative decision-making, shared power, and mutual respect between government and communities. Discover how shifting mindsets, reforming structures, and embracing inclusive practices can drive meaningful change. #Collaboration #Empowerment #Innovation Read on to learn more from Dira Treadvance, MPA & Marcus Gaddy of Montgomery County Government: https://hubs.ly/Q02mFTz00

Implementing equitable community engagement not only promotes trust but encourages active civic participation. It’s also critical to successful economic development work. Find five actions to secure inclusive community engagement here.

Barbara Lepani, President of Greater Blue Mountains Creative Arts Network covers a lot of ground her recent post. https://lnkd.in/ehyTKK-Q From my reading, neoliberalism seems to be an imprecise term for our world system of consolidation and disenfranchisement. The discussion on economics and culture brings me back to The Limits to Growth. Handily published here: https://lnkd.in/eH_8Ntns One has to ask, what are the reasons to bring children into this world? Like any species, we can expect at some point to reach an untenable collapse of resources if our growth is unchecked. [And as economic forces increasingly drive individuals into homelessness and despondency?] What would be the reframing of our world system after the next collapse?

Today, we joined the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) and other community partners in celebrating Kensington’s inclusive community development process. In response to a history of strategic disinvestment in Kensington, exacerbated by the destructive effects of the opioid crisis, the Kensington Planning Process is a coordinated effort to direct resources according to community-defined priorities – and with residents with lived experience as central drivers – to ensure long-term community change and transformation. Spring Point Partners’ investment in the process is aligned with our social justice portfolio’s responsiveness to the self-defined needs of historically oppressed people. A new report – Kensington Planning Process: History, Context, Voices – outlines the process and provides evidence that residents need to be centered in any community development and neighborhood revitalization process. Dig in and support the process at https://lnkd.in/emFFmd9u

What is Community Engagement? Community engagement aims to get the community involved to achieve long-term and sustainable relationships. However, there are strategies to make this initiative successful. Read: https://lnkd.in/gy4iSQ4s #ApexNC #CharityOrganization #CommunityEngagement

Check out our new blog on best practices for inclusive community engagement! https://lnkd.in/e8TFYvsY Implementing equitable community engagement is a key tenant of BBR coalition strategies. It not only promotes trust but encourages active civic participation. It instills a sense of ownership and belonging among community members, which in turn fosters positive investment in their community and its growth. The Building Better Regions Community of Practice hosted a dialogue with Sally J. G., Vice President of Fourth Economy and Ralph Tavares Jr., Lead Consultant at Huckel Inclusive. The discussion focused on common barriers to inclusive engagement and how to navigate these challenges. Key best practices that were highlighted include: 1.      Listen actively and invest in genuine relationships 2.      Co-create processes and solutions 3.      Design inclusive entry points 4.      Be transparent 5.      Identify and address challenges To dig in more on how to effectively facilitate community engagement check out our new blog discussing these actions in more depth and watch the webinar (https://lnkd.in/eFXNkFhj) we hosted with Sally and Ralph.

🌟 The Five Goals of Community Engagement.🌟 Community engagement is essential for fostering strong, vibrant, and inclusive communities. Here are the five key goals we strive to achieve: 1. Informing: Providing the community with balanced and objective information to help them understand the issues, opportunities, and solutions. 2. Consulting: Obtaining feedback from the community to understand their concerns and aspirations, ensuring their voices are heard. 3. Involving: Working directly with the community throughout the process to ensure their input is consistently considered. 4. Collaborating: Partnering with the community in every aspect of decision-making, from developing alternatives to identifying preferred solutions. 5. Empowering: Enabling the community to take initiative and lead efforts, ensuring they have the support and resources needed to drive positive change. Let's continue to build a stronger community together! 💪🌍 #CommunityEngagement #Empowerment #Collaboration

In today's rapidly evolving world, community development initiatives are at the forefront of positive change. However, their success depends heavily on the active involvement of community members. Sensitizing and creating awareness about the importance of community participation in development initiatives is not just a choice but a necessity. Why Community Participation Matters Local Expertise: Community members possess invaluable knowledge of local issues, resources, and needs. Their involvement ensures that development projects are tailored to address these specific concerns. Ownership and Sustainability: When people actively participate in the planning and execution of initiatives, they feel a sense of ownership. This fosters a commitment to the project's long-term success and sustainability. Social Cohesion: Community participation promotes unity and collaboration. It strengthens social bonds and fosters a sense of collective responsibility, which is crucial for the success of any development endeavor. Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding and respecting local customs, traditions, and values is essential for effective development. Community involvement helps ensure that projects are culturally sensitive and respectful. Resource Maximization: Engaging community members often leads to the efficient use of resources. Local knowledge helps identify cost-effective solutions and prevents wastage. #CommunityEngagement: This hashtag underscores the central theme of involving community members in development processes. #LocalWisdom: Highlights the importance of tapping into the local knowledge and expertise that communities offer. #SustainableDevelopment: Emphasizes on the long-term benefits of community participation in making development projects sustainable. #EmpowerCommunities: Showcases how involvement in decision-making empowers communities to shape their own future. #TogetherWeThrive: Communicates the idea that collaboration and unity within communities leads to thriving development outcomes. #DevelopmentForAll: Advocates for inclusive development that leaves no one behind, with active community participation. #ChangeMakers: Celebrates the role of community members as agents of positive change in their own neighborhoods. #CommunityEngagement #LocalWisdom #SustainableDevelopment #EmpowerCommunities #TogetherWeThrive #DevelopmentForAll #ChangeMakers

Promoting Active Engagement for a Flourishing Community Community strength and well-being depend on active member participation. However, some residents avoid responsibilities and contributions, earning the label "deviants", and neglecting essential community needs. Imagine a community where collective security is elusive. Neighborhood watch programs and private security services, designed to enhance safety and protect residents and property, are left in limbo due to nonchalant citizens. It's akin to a drowsy shepherd guarding a flock of sheep; everyone's safety is compromised as a result. These individuals overlook the importance of proactive well-being. Additionally, vital infrastructure like electricity transformers, crucial for a functional living environment, languish due to the negligence of a few. The results? Frequent blackouts, discontented inhabitants, and an overall decline in community well-being. It's reminiscent of a dystopian realm where darkness prevails and flickering lights symbolize a community in chaos. Here's the catch: Those who shirk their duties are not just neglecting responsibilities; they're distancing themselves from their own community. They're fostering a disconnected society, weakening the bonds that unite people every passing day. It's akin to witnessing a vibrant painting gradually lose its colours and turn into a dull, monotonous canvas. So, how do we address this puzzle? How can we motivate these uncooperative residents to embrace their duties and actively engage in community progress? Consider these compelling approaches: Transform regular newsletters, community gatherings, and social media platforms into dynamic channels for promoting awareness and cultivating a sense of duty. Envision a community where information circulates freely, and each resident is informed, involved, and motivated to contribute. Implementing clear guidelines, rules, and regulations that delineate community member responsibilities can revolutionize the situation. A community should leverage mediation and dialogue, engaging these individuals in constructive conversations. By understanding their resistance and finding common ground through mediation, a sense of shared responsibility can be fostered. In extreme cases, legal measures such as fines, penalties, or legal action might be necessary to enforce compliance and safeguard community well-being. In summary, community contribution isn't just a duty; it's a chance to build a lively, prosperous society. Those who don't participate hinder progress and jeopardize safety and well-being. Utilizing communication, clear policies, incentives, dialogue, and, if necessary, legal measures, we can encourage these individuals to become responsible citizens. Let's unite on this path, igniting collective action and fostering a stronger, more engaging community.