Public involvement requirements exist for a reason: they ensure communities are informed and have opportunities to engage in decision making. Of course, we follow state and municipality requirements for public involvement and engagement (i.e., 60-day notices, mailers and website posts). But in my experience, these requirements don’t necessarily bring truly representative voices to the table.
Checking the regulatory boxes isn’t enough.
For more than 35 years, MurphyEpson has believed in going beyond the baseline to create meaningful engagement. Real connection happens when we prioritize grassroots and top-down outreach, ensuring public participation is accessible, inclusive and representative of our community.
At the same time, that community is growing and changing. Our team sees the population shift firsthand through our work with state leaders. The Ohio Department of Development’s projections show a rise to over 3 million residents by 2050. That’s a 35% increase from 2020. What does this mean? As our population expands and changes, so must the tools in our toolkit. Our public engagement must be intentional, inclusive and evolving.
Here’s how we do it:
1. One-on-One + Small Group Conversations
Personal outreach is powerful. We talk to community leaders and residents directly, building trust and gaining insights that wouldn’t surface in a public meeting alone. We know it can require a heavy lift, but that legwork is crucial to identifying the root of community concerns. Listening to micro-level concerns tells us a lot about the community on a macro level. Also, looking someone in the eye creates a relationship much stronger than speaking to a large room.
2. Targeted Social Content
We meet people where they are – scrolling on their phones or checking their favorite social platforms. Strategic social media campaigns ensure that information reaches the right audiences in an engaging and digestible way. For instance, a client recently shared an outreach plan I assisted in executing in 2021 – legal advertisements for public meetings – and asked if we could provide the same service again. I explained that we now recommend using targeted social media advertising instead. This allows us to reach a broader audience more effectively while optimizing the project budget. We helped our client save $500 while connecting with a targeted audience that lived and worked in the specific project area.
3. Tabling at Community Events
We don’t expect residents to come to us. We go to them. We believe a presence at existing events – like neighborhood festivals, farmers markets or local gatherings – increases visibility and participation. It’s much easier to have a meaningful conversation with someone about potential change if you’ve met them in their community first.
4. Building a Representative Project Team
Representation matters. When team members come from the communities they serve, they bring invaluable perspectives and connections that foster trust and engagement. This takes the guesswork out of our research. Life is about who you know. Real community engagement is about who you know you need to talk to.
5. Creating Community Action Committees
Empowering residents through advisory groups gives them an active role in shaping decisions in their neighborhoods. Our team works with neighborhood leaders to form these groups to ensure voices aren’t just heard but integrated into the process. We also hire sub-consultants who live and work directly in the neighborhoods and communities we’re serving so their neighbors know that our project teams have their backs.
6. Language Accessibility
This may seem obvious, but it’s often forgotten: we are a multilingual community. The U.S. Census says approximately 90% of the Columbus area speaks English at home. Approximately 5% of the Columbus area speaks Spanish and 2.5% speaks Somali or another Afro-Asiatic language. That’s why we believe public information must be available in the languages spoken by the community. It’s not an option. Translation services and multilingual materials remove barriers to participation and are paramount as our region continues to grow and diversify.
7. Providing Childcare and Dinner at Meetings
Attending a public meeting shouldn’t be a burden. Offering childcare and a meal helps ensure that working parents and caregivers can participate without added stress. We must be honest about just how realistic public meetings are for folks who are simply trying to get by. Then, we must remove the barriers that prevent them from being heard and involved. Empowering meaningful participation starts with thoughtful, inclusive planning.
Engagement isn’t just about meeting requirements – it’s about making connections that lead to stronger, more informed projects. When we take the extra step to listen and authentically involve the community, we create outcomes that reflect the needs and aspirations of the people we serve. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what public engagement is really about?
