Speaker Series: Talk vs. Action | Making Your Opinion Count

NCPC's 2014 Speaker Series continues with a look at the future of public participation and its influence on urban planning and decision-making.

Planners use a variety of techniques to get people involved and provide feedback. New methods of communication are revolutionizing the planning process. Informal thoughts and opinions are now shared via blogs, Twitter, and online public comment portals. Yet, the robust voices of the online community do not always show up at public hearings or provide formal testimony. A panel of experts will explore how these new formats are transforming the public process and how planners should incorporate traditional and new voices in their work.

Questions we will examine include:

• How can public agencies and other organizations reach out to bridge the communication gap?
• Should online commenters be encouraged to use traditional tested approaches?
• Should organizations formally consider feedback presented through informal channels?
• Are there new or better ways to foster conversations amongst these different audiences?

AICP CM | 1.5

PANELISTS
David Alpert | Greater Greater Washington (Founder and Editor-in-Chief)

Cheryl Cort | Coalition for Smarter Growth (Policy Director)

Mencer Donahue "Don" Edwards | Justice and Sustainability Associates, LLC (Principal and CEO)

Tom Sherwood | NBC 4 (News4 Reporter and Current Newspapers Columnist)

Moderator
William Herbig, National Capital Planning Commission (Urban Planner, Office of Public Engagement)