2020 - 2023
Equitable Community Engagement Toolkit
About
The Equitable Community Engagement Toolkit is a first-of-its-kind resource designed to help City of Philadelphia staff engage communities more equitably. Co-created with over 200 Philadelphians and engagement practitioners across 35 City agencies, the Toolkit provides guidance, tools, stories, programming, a community of practice, and a long-term implementation strategy to support staff as they inform, consult, and collaborate with residents on issues that impact their lives and well-being.
While created with, by, and for Philadelphians, the Toolkit has reached far beyond the city—attracting community engagement practitioners from nonprofits, universities, foundations, and government teams across the United States.
Learn more by listening to the first podcast episode of The Civic Design Room by Mariama N’Diaye.
While created with, by, and for Philadelphians, the Toolkit has reached far beyond the city—attracting community engagement practitioners from nonprofits, universities, foundations, and government teams across the United States.
Learn more by listening to the first podcast episode of The Civic Design Room by Mariama N’Diaye.
Role
Project Co-Lead
Design Researcher and Strategist
Design Researcher and Strategist
Audience
City of Philadelphia staff
Community engagement practitioners
StudioPHL Service Design Studio
PartnersOffice of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Services
Office of Innovation Technology
Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity
Impact
Prior to this transition, I led the process of fully translating the website into Spanish and Chinese—the top two languages spoken in Philadelphia—and updated the site to improve screen reader accessibility, ensuring the Toolkit could serve more residents equitably.
The Toolkit is now managed by the City of Philadelphia's Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO), which is implementing its programs and maintaining its resources.
Prior to this transition, I led the process of fully translating the website into Spanish and Chinese—the top two languages spoken in Philadelphia—and updated the site to improve screen reader accessibility, ensuring the Toolkit could serve more residents equitably.
Credits
Core TeamDanita Reese, Co-Lead and Lead Service Design Strategist
Liana Dragoman, Director of Strategic Design
Anthony Procik, Lead Content Strategist
Helen Rudoff, Content Strategist
John Cajigas, Software Developer
Nicole Carmichael, Program Evaluation Fellow
Connie Vandarakis, Training Fellow
Naomi Roberson Reid, former Director of Equitable Engagement
Alvie Grant, Mayor’s Intern
Partner Agencies The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
The Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement
The Mayor’s Policy Office
The Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Office of Immigrant Affairs
The Office of Innovation and Technology
The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Community Advisory CouncilYvonne Hughes
Vicki Landers
Tyrell Brown
Shimaa Mahmoud Eid
Ousmane Ndiaye
Meliza Reynoso
Jazmin Banks
Brenda Mosley
Ava Campbell
Antoinette Ellis
Executive Sponsors Stephanie Tipton
Romana Lee-Akiyama
Liana Dragoman, Director of Strategic Design
Anthony Procik, Lead Content Strategist
Helen Rudoff, Content Strategist
John Cajigas, Software Developer
Nicole Carmichael, Program Evaluation Fellow
Connie Vandarakis, Training Fellow
Naomi Roberson Reid, former Director of Equitable Engagement
Alvie Grant, Mayor’s Intern
Partner Agencies The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
The Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement
The Mayor’s Policy Office
The Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Office of Immigrant Affairs
The Office of Innovation and Technology
The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Community Advisory CouncilYvonne Hughes
Vicki Landers
Tyrell Brown
Shimaa Mahmoud Eid
Ousmane Ndiaye
Meliza Reynoso
Jazmin Banks
Brenda Mosley
Ava Campbell
Antoinette Ellis
Executive Sponsors Stephanie Tipton
Romana Lee-Akiyama
Funders
- The Operational Transformation Fund
- Innovation Management grant
Press
- August 21, 2024 - The Civic Design Room Podcast: Episode #1 Equitable Community Engagement
- June 30, 2023 - City launches Equitable Community Engagement Toolkit to support equitable engagement between the City and community members
- June 30, 2023 - We’ve launched a beta version of the Engagement Toolkit website
- April 25, 2022 - Case Study: Building an equitable community engagement practice
- May 4, 2022 - An OTF Project: Equitable Community Engagement Toolkit