When engaging the public, elected officials want to hear from residents who reflect the full perspectives, knowledge and identities of their communities. We’ve been told by local governments across BC that one of their biggest public engagement challenges is reaching such diverse audiences rather than just the “same ten people,” as well as addressing barriers that prevent some groups from actively participating.
Beyond “the Usual Suspects” – How to Reach Diverse Audiences in Public Engagement was a free webinar delivered on Thursday, March 3, 2016 by the Civic Engage Team at Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Dialogue. The session focused on real-life case studies exploring strategies for broadening the reach of public engagement and bringing previously unengaged residents to the table.
The presentation and resources referenced during the webinar are available below:
Presentation: Beyond “the Usual Suspects” – How to Reach Diverse Audiences in Public Engagement
Discussed during the presentation:
- “Online Public Participation Platforms and Applications (Overview)” – Wise Economy Workshop & New World Public Engagement
- Dave Meslin’s “Antidote to Apathy” TED Talk, and the resulting “Dazzling Notice Awards”, with some great examples of more engaging notices.
Other links:
- “10 Ways to Make Your Material More Inclusive” – Everyday Democracy
- “Using Online Tools to Engage and Be Engaged By the Public” – Matt Leighninger
“A Planning Guide for Accessible Conferences” – Council of Ontario Universities
Background on SFU Centre for Dialogue’s case studies: