Too often, traditional community engagement methods — like surveys, focus groups, formal convenings, and panels with community representation — focus on identifying weak spots and finding solutions to make programs work better. But these efforts rarely see the full picture. They typically result in:
Wellbeing is about being whole, and to be whole, you have to be seen and heard and included. By truly centering community, the people most impacted by the issues will drive the conversation about needs, solutions, and how change happens from the beginning.
For too long, communities have endured harms at the hands of government systems, philanthropy and nonprofits. Even institutions claiming to value community input can be extractive, disrespectful and tokenizing. It’s time to shift the paradigm by holding our systems accountable and guiding authentic community engagement.
Watch the short video below to learn why it’s time to move beyond community engagement methods such as surveys and focus groups to shift power by co-designing solutions alongside the community.
Community engagement can often be extractive, disrespectful and tokenizing, causing harm rather than forging partnerships with those closest to the problems and solutions.
The Community Bill of Rights illuminates what it takes to shift power and partner with – not just engage – those whose experience and knowledge need to guide decisions and actions. Sixteen community leaders across nine states coauthored this set of eight guiding principles with the partnership of the Full Frame Initiative. It has been used in communities, organization and systems across the country since its creation in 2022.
Driving change that will last requires centering community. But what does that mean? What does it look like when done well? What are some of the common mistakes systems and organizations make trying to engage and center community?
