Allentown’s Community Engagement Efforts

Community engagement is a critical element of any planning effort, but it can be very difficult to reach everyone, particularly those who have felt bypassed by traditional planning efforts and government outreach. Planners need to always seek new ways to engage the public so that everyone has a voice, and it’s always helpful to see what has worked in other communities.

During the development of its new comprehensive plan, Allentown Vision 2030, the City of Allentown successfully conducted extensive outreach. Their robust community engagement included a survey, public meetings, focus groups, social media marketing, a retail storefront in downtown Allentown, community ambassadors, a meeting in the box toolkit, and a diverse and fully-engaged steering committee.

The process was driven by an “Allentown for All” mission, and the final product reflects this inclusive outlook. The plan has a strong emphasis on meeting the needs of everyone in the city, which is reflected in the four primary vision areas: economic inclusivity, city as steward, diversity and inclusion, and community empowerment and collaboration. To learn more about Allentown’s plan and ongoing efforts, go to https://allentownvision2030.org/.