Code for America has released an Engagement Standard that provides concepts for measuring the quality of new engagement platform technology—not a bad tool to have in the perpetual quest to increase the quality of engagement processes.
Shannon McHarg provides insight into a system for measuring civic engagement as created by Code for America. The volunteer problem solving organization has created an Engagement Standard comprised of five elements: Reach, Channels, Information, Productive Actions, and Feedback Loops.
The eight approaches to civic engagement announced in the headline here and in McHarg's article refers to eight different platforms, which are each easily evaluated by rating according to those five elements. The eight platforms, in order of how the perform according to Code for America's Engagement Standard:
- Participatory Budgeting
- Regulation Room
- Change.org
- Brigade
- We the people
- POPVOX
McHarg goes platform by platform, showing how each of them rate relative to the five elements.
Read the full story: Engaging Citizens: A Review of Eight Approaches to Civic Engagement
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Nation's most wind-powered state turns to coal as data centers increase energy demand
For the first time in decades, Iowa has increased its generation of coal power.
NYC cools commuters with city's first rain garden above a bus stop
New York City officials say the plants in the rain garden can absorb 16 gallons of rainwater during heavy storms.
Brightline West’s future may rely on $6 billion federal loan
The company has until Nov. 2 to make a $400 million equity investment into its proposed high-speed rail line.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association