Intervention #3

Equip and empower community groups as partners

The problem

Relationships are key to effective engagement. There are groups and organizations on-the-ground in communities that invest time and energy in building sustained relationships with neighbors. These groups have vested interest in neighbors being engaged in decision-making that directly impacts them. BPDA should partner with these organizations for more effective outreach and engagement. It’s important that partnerships are mutually beneficial and empowering to community-based organizations, rather than purely extractive.

“Some of us have spent decades building relationships within the community. We know the best ways of getting all the information to residents so that they can form educated opinions and make informed decisions. Shouldn’t the city want to work with us to engage residents better? …What does it take to be in ‘good standing’ with the BPDA and be seen as a trusted partner?”

- Marilyn Forman, Dorchester community organizer, PCGN Core Team

 What can be done

IDEA 1

Develop empowering partnership standards

Community-based organizations want to know what it means to be seen as a trusted partner, or in “good standing” with the BPDA. BPDA should work with a committee of organizations to develop reasonable and empowering partnership standards that are rooted in equity and inclusion. These standards should be readily available on the BPDA website. 

IDEA 2

Provide financial support to community partners in good standing

When community groups have shown to meet diversity and inclusion standards, BPDA should equip these groups with financial resources to support their partnered outreach and engagement efforts, while increasing the Agency’s own engagement capacity. These partnerships should be transparently displayed on the BPDA website.

IDEA 3

Empower community partners to assemble meetings, disseminate information, and collect feedback directly

Community groups and organizations are often better positioned to gather residents, disseminate information, and solicit feedback through their own mechanisms. BPDA should sanction these activities and consider feedback gathered as “official” public comment, provided the group continues to meet diversity and inclusion standards.

IDEA 4

Create space for community partners in "closed door" meetings

Allow community partners access to pre-filing meetings with developers and other “closed door” meetings related to developments in their communities. Bringing residents in earlier and more can help establish trust and give more opportunity for making the community’s priorities known before the development gets too far in the process.

IDEA 5

Encourage developers to establish direct relationships with community groups

While BPDA can’t legally require developers to do more than is established by law (Article 80), BPDA can encourage developers to engage directly with trusted community partners. This should be encouraged in the pre-filing stage, where the project is still largely moldable. A simple “best practice guide” for engaging communities early can be provided to developers along with a list of local partners.

IDEA 6

Build relationships within communities when there are no projects on the line

Having consistent presence within communities when there are no projects and decisions to be made goes a long way in building trust. Support groups in their block parties, community events, etc. for on-going relationship building.