Future Here Now: April Showers

Update

Hi. Just a couple of recent updated and programming notes:

1. I had a great time leading a Learning Lab about using Digital Public Engagement strategies and tools at the National Planning Conference last week. We went through an action-packed 90 minutes that ranged from technical considerations for selecting online public engagement tools, to the multitude of reasons why social media should NOT be your public engagement strategy, to confronting the lies we often tell our communities (and ourselves.)
   
   This is part of the American Planning Association’s Upskilling initiative, focusing on a handful of skills that surveys indicate that the planning profession needs to improve. An online training may be coming this fall — stay tuned.
   
   In the meantime, I will be releasing the long-delayed book Tell, Ask, Discuss, Decide: Using Digital Platforms to Engage People in the Future of Your Community. This book gives a very detailed guide to developing a effective public engagement strategy, selecting the right tools and platforms, moderating, testing and gathering data. To my knowledge, there are no other books on this topic, and I’m delighted to see it come to light. If you want to be on the list for advance notice and early-adopter discount, sign up here! And stay tuned for additional training, workbooks, and more.

2. I’m starting a new strategic planning project for a large downtown organization, and it’s a great reminder to me of how important — and complicated — downtowns are. This one is focused on building consensus and coordinating the efforts of the dozens and dozens of businesses and organizations that play a role in this downtown’s success.

   A plan like this requires a very transparent, collaborative process - and if you’ve dealt with downtowns, you know that also includes a very wide range of strong opinions and personalities. This is some of my favorite consulting work, and I’m looking forward to helping this community thrive. If your organization or community could use help finding its future and organizing to get there, let me know.

3. Based on the survey I sent at the end of March, my team is helping me reboot Future Here Now to make it more relevant and easier to digest. Look for a new format with more insights, more news stories and case studies, and more ways to get involved.
   
   We’re also expanding the resources for paid subscribers to include handbooks, video and cheat sheets, plus other benefits. If you subscribe today, you’ll get all of that, too.