Conversations with Communicators: Building Relationships Improves Public Participation

Learn Ten Tips for Connecting with the Public: https://www.cdmsmith.com/en/Client-So...

The success of an infrastructure project is tied to how closely decision-makers listen, and when people feel heard, they are more likely to engage. Public communications experts Irie Price and Lauren Balsamo sat down to talk building long-term connections with community members, meeting facilitation to boost transparency, and learning from colleagues.

Irie helps teams take ideas from seed to flower using innovative facilitation techniques and inspired stakeholder engagement as a former journalist and educator. Lauren fields questions from the communities she serves with ease and grows those connections over time to understand public needs accurately.

Chapters:
00:09 - Engaging with the Public
01:12 - Understanding Community Concerns
01:50 - Facilitation and Finding Solutions
02:47 - Using Virtual Tools
03:35 - A New Team
05:40 - A Focus on Data