Please visit http://knightfoundation.org/brightspots for the full report

1. BRIGHT SPOTS IN
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
with support from

2. Some U.S. communities are building greater civic participation
from the bottom up. Analysis of 14 U.S. Cities and deeper case
studies of four reveal successes and challenges in creating
community bright spots.
OVERVIEW:
Photo credit: Knight Foundation

3. • The best examples change policy
and unite diverse groups
• The more segments of the community
you involve the greater the benefits
• New tools, especially tech tools, are
key to drawing in a range of citizens
• Sustained engagement translates
into economic gains
• Biggest challenges: scaling and
sustaining best practice
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM SCANS
OF 14 CITIES:
Photo credit: flickr.com/alexknowshtml

4. These bright spots have started movements to foster attachment,
expand information access and motivate people to play a larger
role in their communities.
• Philadelphia, PA
• St. Paul, MN
• Austin, TX
• Boston, MA
• Charlotte, NC
• Chicago, IL
• Hampton, VA
• Richmond, VA
• Hartford, CT
• Macon, GA
• Decatur, GA
• San Jose, CA
• Akron, OH
• Detroit, MI

5. Photo credit: Detroit Kiva
Engage people
around community
challenges and
problem-solving
Detroit: Kiva Detroit is focused on
economic development in low-income
neighborhoods.
LESSON #
1

6. Photo credit: flickr.com/
GroundworkCDS
Plan programs to
involve a broad
spectrum of people,
including the
hard-to-reach.
Chicago: The city’s 49th ward
engaged a broad and diverse
audience in policy decisions related
to participatory budgeting.
LESSON #
2

7. Photo credit: flickr.com/Kara La Fleur
Use new tools and
strategies that tap
into the power of
technology.
Philadelphia: Embarked on an open
data initiative by engaging a civically
minded tech community to help city
development efforts.
LESSON #
3

8. Photo credit: flickr.com/austintexasgov
Focus on sustainable
efforts that use a
range of strategies.
Austin: Imagine Austin defines a vision
and framework for all residents to grow
and develop the city using in-person
and online tools and strategies.
LESSON #
4

9. • Use open data to engage residents and improve lives
• Unite different sectors (i.e. government and tech)
for innovative problem solving
• Use city visioning and strategic planning as a traditional
but useful way to engage lots of people – for a short time
• Employ participatory budgeting to engage communities
• Equip people to participate toward sustainability,
i.e. developing leadership or parenting skills
SUMMING UP: KEY TOOLS AND
TACTICS FOR BUILDING BRIGHT SPOTS
Photo credit: Crossroads Charlotte

10. SUMMING UP: WAYS TO
TACKLE CHALLENGES
• Achieving scale: create strong networks to reshape
institutions and systems.
• Reconciling community divisions: mix available tools
(including tech) to chart new paths
• Responding to change: develop built-in plans for adapting
and implementing initiatives beyond leadership transitions
Photo credit: Knight Foundation

11. BRIGHT SPOTS IN
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
with support from
knightfoundation.org | @knightfdnnlc.org | @leagueofcities
Photo credit: flickr.com/DetroitWorksLongTerm