Without community engagement, elected officials and policymakers may rely too heavily on preconceived assumptions of what changes should occur. Decisions made without a process of community dialogue may be less effective due to a lack of support. The community may lose trust in their elected officials if they feel their voice is not heard, and this may not only cause problems in the moment, but they can manifest and perpetuate down the road, as well. If public engagement is minimal, discussions may never make it into the ‘real world,’ and public feedback will not be received by those in leadership positions. Without a proper public engagement process, there is also the possibility that the voices of the few outspoken, more educated or socially connected community members may dominate the discourse, prohibiting legitimate community feedback, collective opinions or shared solutions.
Advocating for Your Community
Institute for Local Government: The Institute for Local Government published a white paper describing effective strategies for public engagement. These strategies are broadly applicable to GNAR communities and can help policymakers better understand how to meet the needs of a diverse group of stakeholders.