Education Center

Throughout the last year, community engagement has taken on a new meaning. It is no longer just about large/annual social activities, as it has been in the past for many communities. Instead, communities are trying to find unique and creative ways to engage their residents. In addition to regular and frequent communications like the monthly community updates we provide our clients, the following are some creative community engagement ideas, many of which are relatively inexpensive as well:

 

COMMUNITY YARD SALES – Many communities already hold annual or semi-annual community yard sales. Community yard sales are inexpensive (purchase some banners, possibly advertise in local newspapers, etc.) and can also be hosted in a socially distant and responsible manner.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES – If you have not heard about the Little Free Library program, we encourage you to visit https://littlefreelibrary.org/. Installing one more little free libraries in your community can be a great way to encourage sharing, reading, and general education. These are often a well-received addition to any community.

 

PORCH PARTIES – Coordinate a community-wide porch party. Not sure what a porch party is? It is a socially distanced event in which neighbors grill and hang out on their porches, driveways, and front yards. It allows everyone in the community to participate from the comfort and safety of their own property, while still interacting with one another.

TURKEY TROTS – Many communities are wonderfully designed to accommodate a Turkey Trot (run, jog, walk) event. Choose a starting point (usually at a community park), create and publish one to two route options (a standard route of up to 3.5 miles, if possible, and shorter route of approximately 1 mile), and encourage residents to participate as desired during a specified window of time (e.g., 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM).

 

HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTESTS – An easy way to engage the community and promote safe fun, hope, and happiness is to hold a holiday decorating contest. Provide a judging date/time to ensure everyone wanting to participate will have their decorations up and turned on, specify the judging requirements/categories (are you looking for the best decorated homes overall or are their specific categories such as most wow factor, best design, etc.), and detail the prizes.