Community Planning and Engagement

Would you like to be more involved in your community? Would you like to learn how to get more people involved with community causes? Penn State Extension has a vast range of resources on these topics. Use them to discover how you can improve your community, and understand more about community engagement and community planning.

Community Planning

A community is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. Many places have different communities inhabiting them, such as an elderly or ethnic community. Community planning involves developing long-range visions, goals, policies, and strategies for community development, usually aiming to achieve social, economic, and environmental sustainability within the community.

Lots of factors have to be taken into account when making plans for a community. People have different views, and only by bringing them together can good plans be made. Your idea of a good community might not be the same as someone else.

For community planning to be successful, it has to be strategic. It has to relate to the identification of long-term aims and interests of the community and the means of achieving them.

To craft an effective community plan, you have to understand the current state of the local economy. One way to learn more is to conduct a detailed study of the local economy’s current and historical performance. In Pennsylvania, the role of agriculture in a community's future is a critical consideration that should be included in the community planning process.

A fundamental element of a strategic plan is continual monitoring. For the plan to achieve its full potential, it needs to be monitored for relevancy and progress toward the ultimate goals.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people. These people may be affiliated by geographic proximity, shared interest, or similar situations. Community engagement aims to address issues affecting the community’s well-being, and it’s a powerful vehicle for bringing about environmental and behavioral changes, particularly when the problems are complex.

Community engagement comes in many shapes and sizes, and by design, it can be used to meet many goals. However, it can also be designed to address specific challenges or issues.

When members of the community are involved in local projects or solutions, it’s far more likely for them to be supported. Community networking helps because it opens doors and creates links between people who share a common interest. It’s not just people either. Collaboration between community organizations is also invaluable.

People can be involved in community planning in a variety of ways. They could become a volunteer, for example. Volunteers can be a valuable resource as long as you know how to work with and manage them effectively.

How to Get Involved With Your Community

There are lots of ways you can make a difference in your community, especially if you possess the necessary leadership skills.

One significant way is by taking part in your local government. A planning commission, for example, is made up of people that serve within the local government as an advisory group. They offer advice on issues and policies related to planning, land use regulation, and community development.

Another way for you to get involved is by joining a community task force, such as those that address the challenges and opportunities associated with developing natural gas and oil from shale.

Citizen advocacy groups can make a difference by working with community officials and developing working relationships with local leaders. Good relationships are vital if you want to help put “green issues” on the local government agenda.

It pays to have the media on your side when it comes to community involvement. Newspapers and radio, and television stations can deliver important messages to the public and exert enormous influence on people’s attitudes and actions.

On this page, find various resources on community planning, as well as community engagement and volunteering.