17 Jun Be Empowered: Ways to Get Involved in Your Community During COVID-19
During a global pandemic, it can feel more challenging to stay involved in your community. Stay-at-home orders and restrictions on public gatherings have made in-person engagement impossible during this time. But, this doesn’t mean that local governments are any less interested in involving the public in decision-making processes. The need for public participation has not lessened in light of COVID-19. In fact, it may be more essential than ever.
In the absence of face-to-face connection between community leaders and citizens, virtual communication has become the norm. Virtual meetings, online surveys, and digital outreach through emails and phone calls have become necessary public engagement strategies. As citizens, it’s important to recognize which mediums are being used by your community and how to continue to engage during COVID-19.
This shift to technological participation is not a problem, but rather an opportunity. Public participation can be done from the comfort and safety of your own home. Meetings can be attended without arranging childcare, transportation, and other factors that could have prevented participation before. Conversations with local government leaders can be conducted via phone or email rather than face-to-face.
Not sure where to get started in your own community? Here are some ways to stay involved in the midst of COVID-19.
Become familiar with your local government’s online presence.
With social distancing and stay-at-home guidance, virtual engagement is the new norm. One challenge constituents face with digital participation is the ability to locate information regarding projects, meetings, and representatives for your community.
These are a few ways to stay informed about what is happening in your community:
- Get to know your local government websites.
- Follow community social media pages.
- Subscribe to updates regarding projects of interest, if available. There are often many projects happening at once, so this will assist with locating information most relevant to your interests and allow you to participate more efficiently.
It is also necessary to recognize what commitment your community is asking you to make. Do they want you to tune into a live virtual meeting tomorrow night? Do they want your input via an online survey? Virtual engagement methods vary with each community. Recognizing what methods are in use is the first step to active virtual participation.
Set aside time for active involvement.
While stay-at-home orders, closures, and online participation may create more time to engage in your community, it may not be at the top of your priority list. Therefore, it is crucial to set aside time for purposeful public participation.
Block that hour of your schedule off for the online meeting. Set aside ten minutes to fill out the online survey. By establishing a specific time to focus on involvement in your community, your participation will feel less like an obligation and more like a meaningful part of your day.
Contact your representatives.
Getting to know who your local and state representatives are and contacting them is an easy way to stay engaged during COVID-19. A quick phone call or email to your representatives gives you a clear, direct way to share your feedback or ask questions. It’s important to let your reps know not just what you’re against, but what you’re for so they continue supporting those efforts.
Not sure how to find your representatives? Here’s a good place to start.
Community representatives are here to work with you and help you better your community. It can take five minutes or less to contact your representatives and make your voice heard!
Get ready to vote in November!
Local government participation is important, but so is statewide and nationwide involvement as well. Participation in larger-scale government helps shape decisions that affect a larger population of people. One of the most important ways to participate is by voting.
2020 is not only a big year for state and local elections, but for the presidential election as well. With considerations for stay-at-home orders and public safety, many states are making absentee voting an option. Be sure to check your state’s absentee voting process and requirements to determine if this is an option for you.
In the 2016 election, only 60.1% of eligible voters actually voted. Even in the midst of this pandemic, we still have the chance to increase voter turnout and make sure all voices are heard!
Here are a few steps to ensure you’re ready to rock the vote:
- Make sure you’re registered to vote! You can check your registration status online or if you’re not registered, you can begin the process here. In 39 states and the District of Columbia, registration can be completed entirely online.
- Check your state’s absentee voting guidelines. The guidelines for each state can be found here, along with links to your state’s absentee voting website.
- Make note of deadlines for registering and voting. Each state has various deadlines to register to vote or request absentee ballots, so make sure your requests are filled out and sent in before the deadlines. With your absentee ballot request approved, you’ll be able to receive the ballot in the mail when Election Day draws closer.
While many states are extending vote-by-mail options for their constituents due to COVID-19, this is still not an option for all. In some areas, citizens may have to travel to the polls in person. If this is the case for you, be prepared with a mask, gloves, and sanitizer to ensure a safe voting experience for yourself and others around you.
Whether you’re voting absentee or in person, take the time to research all the candidates on your ballot. Local and state officials can have an influence on policies and issues you care about too; learn their names and what they stand for before election day comes around.
Make sure to make your voice is heard by voting this November!
Be a trend setter.
Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to participate in the community as well. While you are informed about local projects, others may not be. Informing others leads to empowerment that further shapes changes in the community. Start the public participation trend and encourage others to follow.
Focus on long-term participation benefits.
COVID-19 has shifted everyone’s lives and we’re all handling the situation one day at a time. It can be hard to focus on public involvement on projects that are extremely long-term when no one even knows what tomorrow will look like. However, the current situation does not diminish the importance of public participation.
The decisions being made today may directly impact you and your friends, family, and neighbors in the future. It’s important to make sure your voice is heard now. While this virus has seemingly put everything on hold, little by little our communities will bounce back. We want to make sure everyone has a say in what the future looks like for their community, both small and large.
Remember that everyone is trying to navigate this unprecedented situation together.
No one could have guessed that these changes would shape our society and shift the way that we interact with one another so dramatically. While sometimes these shifts can feel frustrating, confusing, and difficult, remember that we are all in this situation together.
Everyone – individuals and organizations alike – is struggling to navigate this uncharted territory. In this time, public participation and involvement in your community remains important, and so does patience, compassion, and empathy for your neighbors in your community as we take this one step at a time. Let us work together to continue shaping a future in our community that gives us something to look forward to.
TL;DR
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.
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