Public Engagement

There are many terms that describe the involvement of the public in civic and political life. "Public engagement" is a general term ILG uses for a broad range of methods through which members of the public become more informed about and/or influence local decisions.

Public engagement can take many different forms, from informal online polls to internsive community workshops. ILGs offers a wide range of resources, programs, and customized training sessions to help you better understand the potential public engagement strategies and tactical approaches that would work best for your particular community or project. As you expand your familiarity with public engagement best practices and implement them for your agency, we hope you find that increased input from your community leads to better outcomes and impacts.

Inclusive Public Engagement

Local governments throughout California have experienced a variety of benefits thanks to inclusive public engagement. ILG provides tipsheets and…

TIERS Public Engagement Framework

Increasing Outreach

Research, resources and case stories to help ensure that participation in public engagement efforts more fully reflect the demographics of your community.
This includes information about ways to work with community partners to engage a broader cross section of the community, including youth and immigrant residents, as well as how to work more effectively with clergy and congregations.

Partnering with Community-Based Organizations for More Broad-based Public Engagement

Collaborating with local community-based organizations can enhance the breadth and depth of participation by community residents in local decision-…

Immigrant Engagement

Resources and case stories to support the engagement of immigrant communities in local public engagement efforts.

Social Media Strategies

Community members of all ages and backgrounds are increasing their use of social media tools as a way to connect to each other and the issues they care about. Not surprisingly, cities and counties are also increasing their use of these communications channels to reach residents. These articles and tip sheets can help local governments navigate the operational and policy issues that may come up while pursuing this approach to community outreach and engagement.