Engage

A cross-departmental team has been tasked with supporting employees who do this work—whether every day or just once in a while—by providing practical tools, shared standards, and resources that make engagement easier, more impactful and more coordinated.

Our goal is to be a collaborative partner with departments to co-design engagement and communication efforts to create meaningful and effective engagement opportunities.

On this site, you can find tools and resources for civic engagement. The engagement toolkit is divided into four sections: think it, plan it, do it and debrief it. This isn't an exhaustive list. It is meant to be a guided resource for your project. You can choose what is useful to you and those you are trying to reach.

Our Approach

A step-by-step, adaptable guide for planning, implementing, and evaluating engagement efforts, including how to create engagement plans as a part of project plans.

Our team can assist in facilitating and implementing engagement activities, analyze community feedback after the event, and more.

A cohesive approach to all civic engagement activities. This will be informed by the core values work.

Improve project coordination between departments with key external stakeholders to avoid duplication and feeling of being "over-engaged" by communities.

Download the City's Civic Engagement Strategy Document

Toolkits

  • Think It

    What problems are you trying to solve and what are the engagement goals?



    Learn More 

  • Plan It

    What kind of engagement would best meet your goals, and what resources should you consider?

    Learn More 

  • Do It

    What tips and tricks might help you have a successful event or impactful project?

    Learn More 

  • Debrief It

    What worked, what didn't and what can you do better next time?

    Learn More 

Feedback

Have an idea on how to improve this site or is there something you think needs to be changed or added? Let us know.

Goals & Strategies

Goals


Internal

Coordination and collaboration across City departments saves staff time when doing engagement events.

External

Community input can help the government choose how to allocate resources, design programs and change policies more effectively.


Robust civic engagement creates opportunities for residents to share decision-making power with the government for policies and decisions that affect their lives.

Internal

Helps collaboration across and within departments.

External

This could lead to a stronger sense of belonging and community among residents, more engagement in local elections, and more support for local government and policies.


Beyond generating new knowledge, certain engagement activities (e.g., hackathon, design challenge) may help alleviate resource constraints faced by the government and expedite the implementation of new, innovative ideas.

Civic Engagement Strategies

Oklahoma City has identified six key strategies to achieve its engagement goals:


Learn Together

Foster a culture of shared learning between city staff, key stakeholders, and residents.

Streamline Engagement Processes

Develop efficient and consistent methods for community involvement.

Set Clear Expectations

Communicate transparently about the engagement process, timelines, and outcomes.

Lead with Respect and Curiosity

Approach community interactions with openness, humility, and genuine interest.

Design Thoughtfully

Intentionally create engagement opportunities that effectively reach intended audiences and provide actionable input.

Continuously Improve

Regularly evaluate and refine engagement practices based on feedback, results, and new ideas.

Why Engage?

What is civic engagement?

Civic engagement means creating opportunities for people to be involved in their local government and community. It can look like voting, attending public meetings, sharing ideas or reporting problems in their neighborhood. When people are engaged and informed, it helps us make better decisions that reflect what the community needs. It also builds trust and ensures everyone has a chance to be heard.

These resources can help guide departments and contractors in designing their engagement efforts better and creating consistent experiences for our residents.

Why?

One City, One Team

We succeed when we work together. This can include inter-departmental collaboration on projects that impact the public but also extend to how the City partners with residents collaboratively.

Service First

We put people at the center of everything we do. Providing transparent and accessible information and opportunities for feedback helps make our City stronger, safer, and more connected.

Respect Always

We serve every person with dignity and empathy. When the City engages with the public, we do so with curiosity, openness, and honesty.

Own the Outcome

We take responsibility for results, not just tasks. Engagement doesn’t mean always saying yes to what community members want, but it does mean closing the loop with residents and being clear about how decisions are made.

Keep Getting Better

We are always learning, improving, and adapting. Continuous improvement is a shared goal that we can do in partnership with the public.