Leveraging Partnerships to Increase Community Engagement

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How to identify opportunities for partnerships within your community to increase public participation
• Why partnerships with community groups and elected officials are so valuable for planners
• How to conduct similar public-input initiatives using the “On the Table” format

MORE SESSION DETAILS

The power of partnership and leveraging strengths made “On the Table” On the Table” a public-input success for Imagine Lexington, the city’s 2018 comprehensive plan update. Based on a model initiated by the Chicago Community Trust, Lexington kicked off a 10-city Knight Foundation replication of the concept, specifically structured to inform the comprehensive planning process. “On the Table” was designed to bring the entire community together for one day to discuss issues facing Lexington. In this panel discussion, you will hear from key partners integral to making this initiative possible. The local community foundation contributed substantial resources, including a vast network of local philanthropists, grant expertise to secure Knight/Kresge Foundation funding for the project, and dedicated staff to manage the event. Leadership Lexington, sponsored by the local chamber of commerce, was instrumental in engaging younger emerging leaders (often noticeably absent from Lexington civic participation) and helped this event trend regionally on multiple social media channels. Finally, Lexington’s Division of Planning comprehensive plan update provided legitimacy for the project, assuring participants their input would be heard by decision-makers and make a meaningful difference in their community. We believe the lessons learned from this partnership highlight opportunities for increased public participation nationwide.