On April 10, Zencity and ICMA convened local government professionals and civic leaders for a thought-provoking conversation on community engagement. The session spotlighted actionable strategies and real-world examples from leaders in Phoenix, Arizona and Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
Here are our top takeaways:
1. Community-Led Initiatives Build Trust and Results
Nick Valenzuela from the City of Phoenix shared how community concerns around crime and quality of life along the I-17 corridor spurred the creation of a $9M holistic Community Safety Plan. What made it successful?
- The plan was born from community input, not handed down from above.
- Residents helped shape implementation strategies in real time.
- Community committees became essential liaisons and accountability partners, ensuring the plan addressed evolving needs—like the addition of gunshot detectors based on neighborhood feedback.
2. Public Feedback Transforms Priorities
JP Booth from Calcasieu Parish illustrated how data-driven public input directly reshaped funding strategies. Their updated Community Needs Assessment revealed housing instability—not job training—as residents’ top concern. That insight:
- Redirected CSBG funding toward housing solutions.
- Enabled the launch of 11 new housing developments with low-income units.
- Armed leaders with the public mandate needed to form public-private partnerships and advocate for change.
3. Go Beyond the “Same Ten People”
Ayal Feder-Levy, CEO of Zencity, emphasized the importance of expanding reach beyond the usual vocal few. Key strategies include:
- Using online tools to meet residents where they are—on their phones, on social media, in their native languages.
- Leveraging AI to make sense of open-ended responses and surface actionable insights.
- Emphasizing representative, timely, and actionable engagement—especially during budget planning season.
4. Show—Don’t Just Tell—That Input Matters
Both speakers stressed the power of follow-through. When residents see their feedback reflected in action—be it safer streets or a drainage project—they become more likely to stay engaged.
“It’s not just about collecting data,” JP said. “You’ve got to tell people, ‘You asked. We listened.’ And then show them the result.”
5. Engagement is a Continuous Cycle
Engagement isn’t a checkbox—it’s a loop. Cities that succeed in turning feedback into policy decisions also:
- Engage residents before, during, and after projects.
- Use performance management tools to track progress over time.
- Share results openly and use feedback to refine future approaches.
Join the Ongoing Conversation
This webinar was part of the Zencity Impact series. Want to keep learning and collaborating with your peers in local government? Join the Zencity Impact LinkedIn group and be part of the national conversation on transforming public input into public impact.
