08/11/2026
FREE TRAINING TO CITIES TRYING TO GROW THEIR EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community events are the outcome; community connection is the infrastructure.
If residents only hear from the city when there is an event to attend, you’re marketing at them. When the city is consistently present in neighborhoods, you’re building something with them. BUT MAKE SURE those in the neighborhood do not have an agenda driven by $$$. People are smart and pick up on that.
People participate where they feel connected, represented and personally invited. That connection is built long before an event flyer is posted or a Facebook event is created.
Successful community engagement begins at the root level in neighborhoods.
That means having city employees and community partners who are visible beyond City Hall. They know neighborhood leaders, attend community meetings, visit local businesses, talk with churches and schools, understand what different parts of the community care about, and continually build relationships with residents. Make sure they are inclusive not exclusive. Many cities get this wrong and have partners who are out in the community tearing down people that the majority of the community love deeply. So if you're a city, make sure you know who's out there. Representing cuz that could be the biggest barrier that you've got or the biggest asset.
There is also tremendous value in having employees who live in or have deep ties to the community they serve. They aren't simply promoting an event; they understand the community's rhythms, history, relationships and challenges. They know who the trusted voices are and how information actually travels from neighbor to neighbor. It's not a paycheck.
That doesn't mean every employee must live within the city limits. It means community-facing positions should prioritize genuine local knowledge, presence and investment.
The goal should be to move from transactional engagement to relational engagement.
Transactional engagement says:
"We have an event. How do we get people there?"
Relational engagement asks:
"Are we connected enough to our neighborhoods that residents want to participate when we invite them?"
A city can spend more money on advertising, graphics and entertainment, but those things cannot replace relationships. Ever!
Develop relationships with pastors, coaches, teachers, business owners, nonprofits, apartment communities, parent groups and informal neighborhood leaders. Y'all know how many years I have been boots on the ground with no agenda? 20+ Give those people ownership and a voice. Then equip them to carry information into the circles where trust already exists!!
When residents begin saying, "This is something our community is doing" instead of "This is something the city is putting on," attendance becomes much easier to grow. That's why events I plan have huge turnout. Because I do nothing without asking those who actually live here.
The strongest community events aren't built from the stage outward. They're built from the neighborhoods inward.
FREE FORMULA HERE I USE
Relationships → Trust → Ownership → Participation → Attendance.
MOST CITIES HAVE THIS BACKWARDS
If you would like to hire us via contract to train your staff email us at [email protected] or call 513.649.9699
