Inclusive Investment Starts with Equitable Community Engagement

This report offers a set of lessons learned and specific strategies that public agencies and others can deploy to support local organizations and engage traditionally underrepresented community members as partners to shape community development policies, plans, and investments. Adoption of community engagement policies and blueprints created in partnership with the community demonstrate commitment to upholding community insights, valuing local knowledge, and building lasting community leadership. This outlines that community engagement is a spectrum from informing and consulting to collaboration and empowering, with the latter two being the goal of any community-based engagement. By working within the community, committing resources, and respecting local knowledge and community expertise, equitable engagement practices leading to better outcomes.