Engagement Technology For All

This report focuses primarily on the third group, and explores ways in which technology has been used to engage typically un- or underrepresented groups in land use planning and deci- sion-making processes. Low income people, as well as people of color, immigrants, people with limited English proficiency, and youth are often un- or underrepresented in these processes. Reasons for this lack of engagement, according to the scan, include limited city budgets and staff capacity, absence of awareness of opportunities to engage, limited language skills and reading comprehension, and previous negative experiences resulting in mistrust or hostility towards government. While technology is not a panacea for engaging these hard-to-reach populations, it enhances the toolkit available to practitioners. The most effective outreach efforts typically combine high- and low-tech, online and face-to-face engagement techniques, drawing upon a suite of tools tailored to specific audiences and points in the decision-making process.