12 Jan Values We Work By: Our 2021 Promise

With the new year, we all have big changes in store. Us at P3? We are gearing up to work on exciting new projects, to further develop our public engagement skills, and to continue to find innovative ways of engaging the public during COVID-19. However, while there are many changes coming with the new year, some things will always stay the same. As we work on new (and continuing!) projects and progress through the new year, we are prepared to keep our core values in mind and embody them through our work.

At P3, we strive to embody equity, inclusivity, accessibility, and transparency in all of our work with community engagement. Applying these values to the work we do creates a higher quality, more effective engagement process and leads to decision making that incorporates representative feedback from those in a community. Regardless of the size of the project or community it’s based in, these values are a crucial part of all of our efforts.

Equity

Equitable public engagement is the stepping stone to equitable decision-making and development. Decisions should incorporate the feedback from all members of a community, and it is important to work towards equity and ensure that diverse populations are reached. This leads to more representative perspectives in decision-making that affects communities.

At P3, we strive to provide equitable opportunities for engagement to all members of a community. This includes providing equal access to information, resources for participation, and opportunities for engagement. We believe the best decisions are made when the most voices are heard. Thus, we embody this value in our engagement work.

How do we do this? We look at our community and the data received, and if the data does not accurately represent members of the community, we adapt our engagement approach to reach underrepresented groups through additional outreach and more tailored opportunities for providing feedback.

Inclusivity

Inclusivity goes hand in hand with equity in public engagement. Just as it is important to ensure that all have the knowledge needed and access to resources to participate, it is important for everyone to feel included in the conversations surrounding decision-making. Many may not feel inclined to engage in community projects as they do not feel they belong at the table. It’s important to make efforts to establish a culture of belonging by inviting all to participate and ensuring they feel welcome and heard when they do.

At P3, we embody inclusivity in our work by ensuring engagement activities are available to all and surrounded by a welcoming environment. This is done through representative outreach using a variety of methods and tools to reach those with varying degrees of knowledge, interest, and access. We tailor engagement approaches to meet specific community needs and make a conscious effort to encourage all groups and residents in a community to become informed and get involved. We strive to emphasize the value of participation and work to ensure that all who share their opinions are heard. By actively listening to public feedback and incorporating it in decision-making, we encourage community members to participate and ensure them that their desires, concerns, and visions are heard.

Accessibility

Public engagement is not effective if not all are able to access it. Especially in a growing digital environment, many may feel left behind as much of public involvement relies on having access to digital resources and materials. It is important to consider the means of access for all within a community and provide various resources and options for participation to ensure that all who wish to participate have the tools and means to do so.

With the ongoing COVID pandemic, much of engagement has become digital out of considerations for public health and safety. While digital communication may not pose physical barriers to participation, there may be other concerns of accessibility in the form of access to resources.  It is important to consider alternatives to digital engagement and communication. -Using a variety of methods ensure that those without reliable access to online resources are still informed and equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to participate.

Not only do we consider means of technological access, but we must also consider physical accessibility as well. At P3, we work to ensure that our engagement is accessible per ADA standards. This includes a focus on visual considerations, accessible entrances and parking at location, and other considerations for physical disabilities. (For more tips on accessible visual design, see our blog post on the topic!)

At P3, we work to consistently ensure our engagement practices and materials are accessible for all. We continue to use a variety of engagement and outreach methods to ensure that all, regardless of ability or technological access, are informed, involved, and empowered to take part in decision-making.

Transparency

It is important that communication with the public is open and transparent. This establishes trust between the community and agencies. As the community takes part in decision-making, they deserve to know what the general public opinion is and how their participation and feedback influences decision-making.

Through open communication with the public, agencies can create a foundation accountability for their decisions and rationalize them in a way that is clear to the public. Further, transparency encourages more people to get involved and pay attention to what is going on in their community, as they understand the impact of their participation.

P3 works to embody this value by communicating continuously, clearly, and effectively with the public to inform community members about ongoing projects, engagement opportunities, and decisions being made. We communicate regularly using a variation of informative communication tools to enhance public understanding of the community engagement process and how their participation influences decisions. We recognize the value of keeping community members informed and continue to work towards consistent, transparent communication in all of our project work.

As we continue to grow, both as a company and individuals, throughout the coming year, we will continue to manifest these values in our public engagement work to ensure that all residents are informed, involved, and empowered in decisions impacting their communities. These values help us strive towards more effective engagement and more representative decision-making that encourages others to get involved in the future.

Join us throughout the year to see these values in action, as well as more tips on effective public engagement and participation practices!

About the Author: Katie Maynard started her journey with Public Participation Partners as a Community Engagement Assistant in January 2020. When not assisting with public involvement, Katie enjoys reading, traveling to the beach, and spending time with her pets.