Learn about the resident-led comprehensive plan in Shenandoah County, Virginia, where residents designed surveys, directed outreach, and coauthored the plan over five years. A committee of 13 residents, representing every part of the county and trained as resident planners, engaged more than 2,500 people through surveys, partnerships, pop-up events, social media, and a dedicated radio program. The result was a plan so closely aligned with community priorities that it faced no opposition, received unanimous approval from the Board of Supervisors, and carried momentum into implementation because the public supports the plan they built.
Come away with methods to establish resident leadership structures, design engagement strategies that sustain participation across years, and build broad buy-in among diverse stakeholders. Panelists share how facilitation, conflict management, and clear communication turned complex planning concepts into accessible ideas that built trust and motivated participation.
The presentation emphasizes the impact of shifting from consultation to co-production. By centering residents as leaders, planners can strengthen civic capacity, encourage participation from underrepresented voices, and produce plans that communities champion as their own. Leave with tools to implement in your own context, thereby ensuring engagement strategies that are inclusive, scalable, and politically effective. Closed Captioning
Learning Objectives:
Establish a citizen advisory committee model that enables residents to design engagement strategies and directly contribute to plan drafting.
Implement multi-year outreach techniques such as surveys, pop-up events, and media partnerships to sustain broad community participation and co-production.
Enhance communication practices by translating complex planning concepts into clear, accessible language that builds trust and secures public support.
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