Exclusionary participation processes and meetings erode trust and limit communities’ influence on decisions.
View the details on what communities have shared with SLECC from across the state.
Engagement processes often privilege experts and rely on one-way consultation, limiting meaningful community influence. Technical presentations, rigid agendas, and bureaucratic language create power imbalances, while agencies frequently seek participation limited to listening rather than co-creation. Weak or absent feedback loops mean community input rarely shapes final decisions.
Meetings are often scheduled at inaccessible times or locations, preventing working residents and transit-dependent households from participating. Weekday meetings—sometimes held at times like 10am—exclude people with inflexible jobs, and even when rescheduled, key information is sometimes omitted, further eroding trust.
SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.
Provide multilingual and ASL interpretation to ensure fully accessible meetings. Offer interpretation and conduct workshops in the languages communities speak—such as Spanish, Khmer, and others—so all participants can engage meaningfully.
Create regional coordination infrastructure to align agencies and partners. Establish regional collaboration mechanisms—such as shared grant applications, pooled resources, and joint funding or trust models—to streamline efforts and strengthen cross-agency partnerships.
SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.
Help us to expand our database. Either share new ideas, best practices or general feedback via this form, or click on a particular item to share additional feedback, information, examples of progress on that particular item.
Please share any additional resources you would like to include by emailing eecoordinator@civicwell.org.
