Community Engagement


Community engagement involves collaborating with individuals, groups, or organizations to address shared concerns, solve problems, and enhance community well-being. It is a two-way interaction that builds relationships, fosters communication, and actively involves community members in decision-making. Community engagement can take various forms, such as public meetings, workshops, surveys, social media interactions, partnerships with local organizations, and other initiatives encouraging community members' participation and input. Community engagement creates a sense of ownership, empowerment, and shared responsibility among community members for the betterment of their collective environment.


Community engagement is vital to community change work. It empowers people to participate in decision-making, advocate for their needs, and collaborate on initiatives that address health disparities and promote well-being. Strong community engagement can lead to improved quality of life and greater resilience in the face of challenges. Communities with high levels of engagement are more likely to experience lower crime rates, better mental and physical health outcomes, and increased social cohesion. Additionally, engaged communities are more resilient in crises and demonstrate greater life satisfaction and overall well-being.


Community engagement in the U.S. has evolved through various historical movements, including Civil Rights activism, women’s suffrage, labor rights, and LGBTQ rights. These events have underscored the importance of grassroots organizing, collective action, and community empowerment in addressing social issues and driving positive change. Marginalized groups such as low-income communities, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and rural communities have the most to gain through increased community engagement as these groups often face systematic barriers to participation and have historically been underrepresented in decision-making.


Although there are many successful community engagement initiatives across the country, challenges like unequal access to resources, systemic barriers to participation, and issues related to trust and transparency exist. It’s important to address these challenges and promote more inclusive, participatory approaches to community engagement. Equity challenges in community engagement often stem from power dynamics that privilege certain voices over others, cultural and linguistic barriers, and historical distrust of institutions. Additionally, gentrification, displacement, and economic inequality can further exacerbate community inequities and complicate efforts to foster meaningful engagement. 


Community engagement fosters collaboration, trust, and accountability between institutions and the communities they serve, leading to more effective and equitable policy-making, resource allocation, and service delivery. Changemakers and stewards can influence community engagement by advocating for policies and practices prioritizing inclusivity, equity, and meaningful participation. They can also provide resources, training, and support to empower communities to organize, collaborate, and advocate for their needs. Ultimately, they can drive systemic change by dismantling barriers to engagement, amplifying marginalized voices, and fostering collaborative decision-making processes. At the local level, communities can host community meetings and forums to gain input. Leveraging technology such as social media, online platforms, and mobile apps can facilitate communication, outreach, and engagement. Lastly, providing resources, training, and support to community members can empower them to become more engaged. 

Resources & Tools


Cover page for the Changemaker's Guide
The Changemaker's Guide: A Community Planning Curriculum
Resource - Guide/handbook
Published on 01/01/2014
Home page of the KIDS COUNT website
KIDS COUNT Data Center
Tool - Data/mapping Tool
Community Health Assessment Toolkit graphic
Community Health Assessment Toolkit
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox
people walking with golden gate bridge in background Photo by Eirik Uhlen on Unsplash
Bright Spot: Boeddeker Trekkers Walking Group
Resource - Model Policy
Brought to you by 100MHL
Screen shot of cover photo: Thriving Together: Engaging Through Dialogue
Thriving Together: Engaging through Dialogue
Resource - Data Bank/repository
First page of The Community as a Full Partner: A New Model For Public Health
The Community as a Full Partner: A New Model For Public Health
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by Health Affairs
Screen capture of Next Steps For Imagine Fox Cities blog
Next Steps For Imagine Fox Cities
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Inc.
Cover page of Leveraging Community Expertise to Advance Health Equity
Leveraging Community Expertise to Advance Health Equity
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Urban Institute
First page of A Guide to Nurturing Community Dialogue document
A Guide to Nurturing Community Dialogue
Resource - Guide/handbook
PDF Cover: Conversation Guide: Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Renewal for Youth
Conversation Guide: Social, Emotional, and Spiritual Renewal for Youth
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Living Room Conversations
Screen capture of 1:1 Conversations webpage
1:1 Conversations
Resource - Website/webpage
Cover page of Guide to Equitable, Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning
Guide to Equitable, Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Screen capture of the MeasureUp webpage
MeasureUp
Resource - Data Bank/repository
Brought to you by Build Healthy Places Network
Screen capture of Three Ways Public Libraries Support Socially Connected Communities blog post
Three Ways Public Libraries Support Socially Connected Communities
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Healthy Places by Design
Screen shot of the Living Room Guides homepage
Living Room Conversations
Resource - Guide/handbook
Screenshot of the first page of Mapping Civic Measurement
Mapping Civic Measurement
Resource
Brought to you by The Institute for Citizens and Scholars
Screen capture of Three Essential Ways to Provide Support Community Rebuilding After Disasters
Three Essential Ways to Provide Support Community Rebuilding After Disasters
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Peak Grantmaking Inc.
Screen grab of Reclaim Your Vote
Reclaim Your Vote
Resource
Brought to you by National Urban League
Cover page for resource guide on public engagement
Resource Guide on Public Engagement
Resource - Guide/handbook
Cover page of Public Will Building
Public Will Building
Resource
Brought to you by Metropolitan Group
First page of Resident Engagement Practices Typology
Resident Engagement Practices Typology
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by ReThink Health
Cover page of Community Engagement Guide
Community Engagement Guide
Resource - Guide/handbook
First page of Cultivating a Healthier Policy Landscape: The Building Healthy Communities Initiative
Cultivating a Healthier Policy Landscape: The Building Healthy Communities Initiative
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by SAGE Publications
Cover page of Do No Harm Guide: Additional Perspectives on Data Equity
Do No Harm Guide: Additional Perspectives on Data Equity
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Urban Institute
Screen capture of
"Data Walk" Is a Key Tool in Results-Based Leadership
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Annie E. Casey Foundation
Cover page for resource to use arts and culture to advance equity and inclusion
Using Arts and Culture to Advance Equity and Inclusion
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Inclusive Debuque
Screen capture of What is Listening? webpage
What is Listening?
Resource - Website/webpage
Screen capture of Data Walk - Population Health Innovation Lab webpage
Data Walk - Population Health Innovation Lab
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by Population Health Innovation Lab
Cover page of Community-Driven Data and Evaluation Strategies to Transform Power and Place
Community-Driven Data and Evaluation Strategies to Transform Power and Place
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Build Healthy Places Network
First page of ARP Toolkit Guidance on Community Engagement
ARP Toolkit Guidance on Community Engagement
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Community Commons
Cover Image for guide to rebuilding downtown
(Re)Building Downtown: A Guidebook for Revitalization
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Smart Growth America
First page of Tool: Hosting a Data Walk document
Tool: Hosting a Data Walk
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Tamarack Institute
Screen capture of School District Policies webpage
School District Policies
Resource - Toolkit/toolbox
Screen capture of What Are Dialogue and Deliberation? webpage
What Are Dialogue and Deliberation?
Resource - Website/webpage
PDF Cover: Conversation Guide: Civic Renewal
Conversation Guide: Civic Renewal
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Living Room Conversations
Cover page of Listening to the Community's Input: A Guide to Primary Data Collection
Listening to the Community's Input: A Guide to Primary Data Collection
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by WALHDAB
Screen capture of Building Trust in Dialogue blog post
Building Trust in Dialogue
Resource - Blog
Cover page of A Participatory Action Research Field Guide
A Participatory Action Research Field Guide
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by CLF
Cover page of the Transformative Research Toolkit
Transformative Research Toolkit
Resource - Report
Brought to you by Othering and Belonging Institute
First page of The Role of Business in Supporting Basic Needs for Health and Safety: Safety
The Role of Business in Supporting Basic Needs for Health and Safety: Safety
Resource - Policy Brief
Brought to you by WIN Network
Published on 02/25/2021
Screen capture of Community Dialogues blog webpage
Community Dialogues
Resource - Blog
Cover page of A Quick-Start Guide to Using Evidence-Based Policy at the Local-Level
A Quick-Start Guide to Using Evidence-Based Policy at the Local-Level
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by CDC
Screen capture of The Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge webpage
The Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by APHA
Screen capture of the Action Guide for Building Socially Connected Communities webpage
Action Guide for Building Socially Connected Communities
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Foundation for Social Connection
Cover of Using Collective Impact to Bring Community Change
Using Collective Impact to Bring Community Change
Resource - Book
Brought to you by Routledge
PDF Cover: A Playbook for New Rural Healthcare Partnership Models of Investment
A Playbook for New Rural Healthcare Partnership Models of Investment
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Build Healthy Places Network
Screen grab of Demographic Notes
Demographic Notes
Resource - Website/webpage
Screen shot of the youtube page
We Belong to the Earth and We Belong to Each Other: Connection, Climate, and Global Belonging,
Resource - Webinar
Brought to you by Othering and Belonging Institute
First page of Mini-Manual for Conversation Café Hosts document
Mini-Manual for Conversation Café Hosts
Resource - Guide/handbook
PDF Cover: Recovery to Renewal: Dialogue Guide
Recovery to Renewal: Dialogue Guide
Resource - Guide/handbook
Screen grab of Policies and Laws for the Health of All
Policies and Laws for the Health of All
Resource - Podcast
Brought to you by CDC Foundation
Screen capture of Assessing Community Needs and Resources: Conducting Focus Groups
Assessing Community Needs and Resources: Conducting Focus Groups
Resource
Brought to you by KU Center for Community Health and Development: Community Tool Box
Screen grab of What is Dialogue?
What is Dialogue?
Resource - Blog
Screen capture of Data Chats as an Organizing and Capacity-Building Process webpage
Data Chats as an Organizing and Capacity-Building Process
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Medium
PDF Cover: A Transdisciplinary Approach is Essential to Community-Based Research With American Indian Populations
A Transdisciplinary Approach Is Essential to Community-Based Research With American Indian Populations
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by Colorado School of Public Health
Screen capture of Dialogue to Change webpage
Dialogue to Change
Resource - Website/webpage
Screen capture of What’s Different When the Community Collects the Data?
What’s Different When the Community Collects the Data?
Story - Written
Brought to you by Shelterforce
How to Get Mutual Aid to Those Most in Need
How to Get Mutual Aid to Those Most in Need
Story - Written
Brought to you by Yes! Magazine
Group of change-makers with Healthy Waterville
Stories from Waterville, Maine
Story - Written
Brought to you by 100MHL
Blue banner with the All-America Cities icon and titles that read
Commons Good Podcast: Annie Martinie and Maggie Richardson
Story - Audio
Brought to you by CI
Published on 12/13/2020
mural of colorful puzzle pieces Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash
All-America City Award Finalists Stewardship in Action: Franklin, Tennessee
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 09/19/2020
Group photo
Vital Village Network: Leading Together
Story - Written
Brought to you by 100MHL
A collage of four photos of community members engaging in dialogue.
Dialogue as a Process for Community Change
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
String art on a white background Photo by Omar Flores on Unsplash
All-America City Award Finalists Stewardship in Action: Muncie, Indiana
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Initiatives
Published on 08/23/2020
Screen capture of This Pilot Project is Shaking Things Up at Public Meetings article
This Pilot Project is Shaking Things Up at Public Meetings
Story - Written
Brought to you by Johns Hopkins University
Published on 04/26/2024
community band playing outside at a public place
8 Great Resources for Public Community Space
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Blue banner with the All-America Cities icon and titles that read
Commons Good Podcast: Sean Dunne
Story - Audio
Brought to you by Community Commons
Screen capture of In a Rural Southwest Colorado Town, a New Program is Transforming Summer for Local Children story
In a Rural Southwest Colorado Town, a New Program is Transforming Summer for Local Children
Story - Written
Brought to you by The Colorado Trust
Published on 07/10/2023
Screen capture of AI-Assisted Sensemaking webpage
AI-Assisted Sensemaking
Story - Written
Screen capture of How to Spend ARPA Funds With an Equity Lens
How to Spend ARPA Funds With an Equity Lens
Story - Written
Brought to you by National League of Cities
Published on 08/13/2021
Screen capture of Americans Are Volunteering Less Than Ever article
Americans Are Volunteering Less Than Ever
Story - Written
Brought to you by Bloomberg L.P.
Published on 01/15/2024
Screen capture of Paying Community Members for Their Time
Paying Community Members for Their Time
Story - Written
Brought to you by Shelterforce
seed packets in a pile photo by Stacy Wegley
All-America City Award Finalists Stewardship in Action: Pitt County, North Carolina
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 09/22/2020
Looking Beyond Election 2020: How You Can Help Heal America
Looking Beyond Election 2020: How You Can Help Heal America
Story - Written
Brought to you by CHP`
two motorcyclists at a train crossing in a small town Photo by craig kerwien on Unsplash
Planning for Healthy, Equitable Communities
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Screen shot of the headline of the story
Leveraging Community Partnerships to Navigate COVID-19
Story - Written
Brought to you by IHI
All-American City Award logo
All-America City Award Finalists: Stewardship in Action
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
How Should Cities Spend Billions in Aid? Ask People Who Live There
Story - Written
Brought to you by CityLab
Published on 08/05/2021
Screen capture of Centering Community Voice: Stories of Lived Experiences documentary landing page
Centering Community Voice: Stories of Lived Experiences
Story - Video
Brought to you by Georgia Health Policy Center
photo of election polling station doors Photo by Elliott Stallion on Unsplash
Voting Maps and Data Resource Collection
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
four people sitting on a stone bench listening Photo by Kate Kalvach on Unsplash
Bringing the Vital Conditions to Life: Belonging & Civic Muscle
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
spray painted hearts graffiti art Photo by Renee Fisher on Unsplash
All-America City Award Finalists Stewardship in Action: Rancho Cucamonga, California
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 09/20/2020
Group of people standing in a hallway
Buckeye HEAL: Our SCALE Journey 2015-2019
Story - Written
Brought to you by 100MHL
Title page of Kidney Sundays: A Toolkit
Kidney Sundays: A Toolkit
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox

Data & Metrics


Collage of portraits from 100 Million Healthier Lives movement
Stories from 100 Million Healthier Lives
Library
Published on 09/10/2020

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