Community engagement blog

The difference between artificial and collective intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, Collective Intelligence… these notions might sound like they come from coming from a distant future, but they are actually becoming reality.

Participation

People working on laptops at a shared dark table

The difference between community engagement and participation

Over the last few years, there’s been a shift from top-down governance to more horizontally organized types of governance. This new political current includes all the stakeholders of public policy projects, such as public organizations, businesses and community members, into the decision-making process.

Participation

Man shows a smiling woman something on a tablet outdoors in a city square

Using a digital engagement platform for offline events: examples

Traditionally, community engagement has been compartmentalized into offline and online methods, often treated as distinct and separate elements. However, the evolving needs and preferences of the public call for a paradigm shift. It’s time to blend these worlds, for instance by using digital engagement platforms as enhancers of offline community engagement. This integration promises to streamline processes and enrich the quality of participation.

Participation

Four smiling young people taking a selfie together on a terrace

How to engage young people

Young people care about their communities, but most feel shut out of the conversation. It’s not that they don’t want to participate in local decisions. They just don’t see how or if it’s really worth the effort. Outdated systems, complex processes, and inaccessible formats create invisible walls. This article breaks down how local governments can break through those barriers – with 10 practical strategies to engage youth in ways that actually work.

Participation

Residents at tables reviewing printed handouts during a community meeting, with a presenter and screen

A Deep-Dive Into Allen, TX’s Engagement Success

Do you have a small team dedicated to community engagement efforts? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The City of Allen has demonstrated how a small team can achieve excellent results by fostering widespread support throughout the organization and crafting a robust engagement strategy, strongly facilitated by its online community engagement platform.

Participation

Person in a checked shirt tapping on a smartphone resting on their knee

Slacktivism': Legitimate Action or Just Lazy Liking?

It sounds like a contradiction in terms, like ‘sound of silence’ or ‘sensible Twitter debate’. But ‘slacktivism’, a contraction of ‘activism’ and uh, ‘slacking’, has become a widespread phenomenon that urges us to reflect on the nature of activism and participation.

Participation

Smiling team of colleagues of different ages working together around a table with laptops

Sculpting an impactful engagement team: essential roles and skills

An effective community engagement team, similar to a well-tuned orchestra, relies on a mix of diverse roles each playing their unique part in harmony. As for most teams, the key to success lies in bringing together people with different personalities, skills, and abilities. We sat down with Hugo De Brouwer, CitizenLab’s Head of Government Success, to discuss which roles and skills an organization needs to take participation to the next level.

Participation

Smiling woman in glasses working on a laptop at an office desk

Quiz: How strong is your culture of engagement?

Ever wondered how you match up on your community engagement efforts? We’ve got just the quiz for you. Answer a few questions, get a clear score of your efforts, and get resources to support you as you level up.

Participation Strategy

Hand holding a card for UN Sustainable Development Goal 4, Quality Education, in front of a classroom

Promoting sustainable development with community engagement

By engaging their communities and tapping into collective intelligence, cities across the globe can set better priorities and facilitate sustainable development on a local scale.

The Go Vocal blog: ideas and insights on community engagement

Beyond online and offline: building listening infrastructure for hybrid participation

The difference between artificial and collective intelligence

The difference between community engagement and participation

Using a digital engagement platform for offline events: examples

How to engage young people

A Deep-Dive Into Allen, TX’s Engagement Success

Slacktivism': Legitimate Action or Just Lazy Liking?

Sculpting an impactful engagement team: essential roles and skills

Quiz: How strong is your culture of engagement?

Promoting sustainable development with community engagement

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