Durham Strategic Plan Dashboard
Prosperity
Status Indicator: 
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Complete/Ongoing
Initiative: 3.11 Assess and build innovative pathways that facilitate equitable community engagement
Connected, Engaged, & Inclusive Communities
Description
This effort is to evaluate the City’s already existing engagement practices, how to improve them, and outline new pathways to maximize positive outcomes while making more equitable engagement methods commonplace in the City. The evaluation will result in a list of recommendations, such as how the City should place and train engagement staff throughout the organization, create more connecting points between staff and residents, and how to make sure staff and community members well informed about engagement within the City. This evaluation will also help us know where/how to build and change existing structures to more equitably engage residents in decision-making throughout the City. These structures could include community boards, official City meetings, and ambassador programs.
Key Measures & Data Analysis
Since the beginning of the fiscal year we have seen an increase in the percent of departments and office attending our Engaged City meetings. In July, 45% of departments and offices attended and by May, 59% of departments and office have attended. This number has remained at 59% since then through September.
Over the past six months, we have paused our meetings (but will resume soon!) and focused on evaluating and strengthening the City’s engagement practices to make equitable engagement more effective and accessible across departments. With the onboarding of the Engagement Consulting Manager, we have been working to understand current engagement efforts, identify gaps, and develop a strategic approach to improving citywide engagement. Key activities include:
- Prioritizing Key Engagement Projects – We have identified the top 10 engagement projects across departments to better understand existing challenges and opportunities. This has provided insight into how engagement is structured within the City and what resources and training are needed to support staff in more effectively engaging with residents.
- Hosting Monthly Engaged City Events – These events provide a platform for staff across departments to share experiences, build connections, and explore best practices for equitable engagement. Attendance has varied, but staff continue to express the value of these sessions in improving their engagement work. Topics have included relationship and asset mapping, interdepartmental collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.
- Developing a Training Framework – While initially focused on a training plan for equitable engagement, we are expanding this work into a broader strategy for structuring, supporting, and institutionalizing engagement practices across the City.
Why is it important?
This initiative is important because it addresses the historic harm posed on historically underrepresented or disproportionally affected communities that have been typically excluded from policy decisions and seeks to rectify it by increasing the City’s ability to equitably engage in efficient and effective ways that elevate voices not typically heard in local government work. With additional resources and expertise committed to improving our processes now, we can reduce future harm, promote equity, and make Durham a community that serves all, not just the few.
What have we been doing?
What we've been doing? / Over the past six months, we have focused on evaluating and strengthening the City’s engagement practices to make equitable engagement more effective and accessible across departments. With the onboarding of the Engagement Consulting Manager, we have been working to understand current engagement efforts, identify gaps, and develop a strategic approach to improving citywide engagement. Key activities include:
- Prioritizing Key Engagement Projects – We have identified the top 10 engagement projects across departments to better understand existing challenges and opportunities. This has provided insight into how engagement is structured within the City and what resources and training are needed to support staff in more effectively engaging with residents.
- Hosting Monthly Engaged City Events – These events provide a platform for staff across departments to share experiences, build connections, and explore best practices for equitable engagement. Attendance has varied, but staff continue to express the value of these sessions in improving their engagement work. Topics have included relationship and asset mapping, interdepartmental collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.
- Developing a Training Framework – While initially focused on a training plan for equitable engagement, we are expanding this work into a broader strategy for structuring, supporting, and institutionalizing engagement practices across the City.
These efforts lay the foundation for more effective, informed, and community-centered engagement across Durham.
What's next?
As we continue strengthening equitable engagement across the city, our focus will be on three key areas:
- Expanding Engaged City Events – We will maintain a regular schedule of monthly Engaged City events, incorporating guest speakers, panel discussions, and interactive sessions to provide staff with practical strategies for equitable engagement. Upcoming topics may include cultural competency, ethical storytelling, and best practices for gathering community feedback, ensuring staff have the tools to build stronger relationships with residents.
- Advancing the Top 10 Projects – These projects will continue to serve as a learning tool for understanding how engagement happens across the city and where improvements are needed. Through this process, we are identifying common challenges, best practices, and resource gaps to better support staff in building more inclusive and effective engagement strategies.
- Developing the Engagement Framework – We will refine our training and resource framework, ensuring it aligns with city priorities and addresses specific engagement needs. This may include exploring evaluation metrics, engagement mapping, and contractor training to institutionalize consistent, equity-focused engagement practices across all departments.
City Website Home Page: Durham, NC | Official Website (durhamnc.gov)
Budget Website Page: Budget & Management Services Department | Durham, NC (durhamnc.gov)
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