Community engagement refers to the process of working collaboratively with the members of a specific community to address issues of shared concern. It involves actively seeking input and participation from community members, and working together to create solutions and make decisions that benefit the entire community. Community engagement often includes activities such as community meetings, focus groups, surveys, and other forms of outreach to gather input and feedback. This process of engagement can be used in many fields such as social services, community development, urban planning, education, and public health. The overall goal of community engagement is to build strong, resilient, and self-sufficient communities by actively involving community members in the design and implementation of policies, programs, and initiatives that affect their lives.

A sense of belonging and connection to a community or group.

A desire to make a positive impact on one's community.

Access to resources or opportunities that can be shared or leveraged within the community.

A feeling of empowerment and agency to create change within one's community.

A shared vision or common goal that members of the community are working towards.

A sense of responsibility to contribute to the community.

A recognition of the potential for collective action to achieve outcomes that would be difficult or impossible to achieve alone.

A shared culture or set of values that unite community members.

A willingness to collaborate and work with others to achieve shared goals.

A variety of social and political factors that create a sense of urgency or need for community engagement.

A community listening session is a structured meeting or event designed to allow community members to provide input, share their lived experiences, and voice concerns. A community listening session framework typically includes the following elements:

Purpose: Clearly communicate the purpose and goals of the listening session to the community.

Preparation: Plan the listening session in collaboration with community members and stakeholders.

Facilitation: Use trained facilitators to lead the session and ensure it runs smoothly.

Format: Choose an appropriate format for the session, such as roundtable discussions, panel presentations, or open houses.

Participation: Encourage active participation from a diverse group of community members.

Information gathering: Use a variety of tools, such as surveys and feedback forms, to gather information from participants.

Follow-up: Follow up with the community after the session to share the results and next steps.

Action: Use the information gathered to create action plan and implement them

Evaluation: evaluate the listening session and make necessary improvements for next session.

By using a community listening session framework, both organizations and government can ensure that the voices of community members are heard and that their perspectives are considered in the decision-making processes. “Build nothing for them without them.