COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR DIVERSE POPULATIONS

AVOID THE SINS OF THE PAST BY GETTING 

MEANINGFUL INPUT FROM MARGINALIZED PEOPLE

Artie Padilla, DRIVE Initiative Director for the Central Valley Community Foundation, said cities could benefit by duplicating Fresno, California’s strong presence of nonprofits doing place-based planning.

Families living in unstable housing discuss their needs and desires to find more stable housing and opportunities for their kids.

“The city of Fresno has learned if they don’t do things in an equitable, relatable way, they’re going to be called out,” Padilla said of planning for housing, mobility, parks, the environment and more.

“The mayor even created a department of community engagement.”

Community development should be based on assets — and the assets always are the people who live in the impacted area.

Padilla said planning needs to start with nothing locked in stone. Community development should be based on assets — and the assets always are the people who live in the impacted area.

“In the past, city officials would say everybody likes parks, so they just built a park. Now, it has to be culturally responsible and super inclusive for people with disabilities,” he said.