City of Grand Rapids, MI
Connecting to hard-to-reach communities
In tandem with partner Sidewalk Detroit, a unique element of the Bridge to Our Future engagement approach was developed: the Community Connectors. These 20 individuals were identified through a rigorous vetting and interview process and were tasked with going out into the neighborhoods to meet people where they are. The intention was to lower the barriers and allow community members to engage, voice their opinions, and contribute to the future of their city. For the first round of public engagement, the Community Connectors facilitated “Meetings-in-a-Box,” where they gathered small groups to discuss the City’s future. In the second round of engagement, these Connectors facilitated “Walk-and-Talk Workshops,” which consisted of storytelling to capture history, take stock of current community conditions, and envision the City’s future.
Uncommon key issues
While typical aspects of a Community Master Plan revolve around land use, transportation, housing, and the like, the City of Grand Rapids determined it was critical to address nontraditional issues within the scope of the plan as well. These focus areas included advancing equity across all aspects and areas of the community, improving public safety as it relates to the built environment, promoting environmental justice and health, and addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Related News
Final Project Document
Tags
Project Type: community master plan
Community Type: city
Client: City of Grand Rapids
Services: comprehensive planning, community engagement
