Public Engagement Roadmap

2015 - 2016

A teal map of city streets with yellow post-its

Cities are dealing with limited resources and various problems. The Accelerator program, funded by Living Cities and the Citi Foundation, assists cities like Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Seattle in involving the public in government processes. This 18-month program offers tools, coaching, and support for progress. The roadmap for public engagement planning is used by government organizations across the U.S., and a board game called "Chart the Course" was played at the White House in 2015 to enhance public engagement capabilities.

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About the Project

Problem Space

As local government resources are contracting and challenges ranging from economic inequality to infrastructure are compounding, cities must design new and more effective responses. Cities are increasingly looking for ways to implement promising innovations that will have a significant impact in the lives of their residents, especially those with low incomes.

Proposed Intervention

This 18-month program focused on developing and sharing civic methods with a cohort of five cities to incorporate public participation into government processes. Cities in the cohort included: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Seattle. The resulting guidebook highlights how practices can be concretely adapted and scaled.

Social Impact

The roadmap has been used by government organizations around the United States to aid in public engagement planning. Chart the Course, the board game that is part of the Roadmap, was played in the White House in 2015 by Obama administration staff interested in enhancing their public engagement capacity.

Collaborator

Logo image for Living Cities
Logo image for Citi Foundation

Project Contact

For inquiries about this project, please contact eric_gordon@emerson.edu.