Beyond City Hall: Why Organic Collaboration Is Better Than an Orderly Approach

Local experts can improve their communities more effectively by making small bets instead of following top-down, orderly processes.

The highest form of collaboration involves diverse teams working together with a shared vision, where each member contributes their unique expertise and perspective. Collaboration (or community input) is discussed at great length within the profession of urban planning. This collaboration involves community members, professionals from various fields, and leaders who prioritize values and objectives over technical expertise. Through a collaborative approach, we are told that we can ensure that projects add value and grow the community’s wealth.

This is the textbook description that is taught in schools and promoted at professional conferences. Collaboration is something that we aspire to achieve through all of our municipal projects and master plans. However, if you have ever participated in a vision plan, an update to the comprehensive plan or a long-range transportation plan, you soon realize that collaboration and contributions seem to be guided — or worse, restricted.

I understand how well-intentioned collaboration becomes lost in the process. Our municipalities thrive in orderly systems, and the collaborative process is less than orderly. Open meeting acts and sunshine laws dictate when, where and how the committees can meet. Policy practices encourage meetings at city hall because these spaces are fully accessible with the latest audiovisual technologies or the ability to broadcast the meeting, setting the stage to combat even a hint of chaos. All of our well-intentioned approaches are counter to the actual goal of collaboration. Ruben Anderson nailed it when he said that most public engagement is worse than worthless.

Recognizing the limitations of an orderly approach, an organic, bottom-up movement emerged. Strong Towns members are finding each other and meeting.

Strong Towns members represent a diverse collection of local experts with a broad range of professional and educational backgrounds. The common thread with these individuals is their love for their communities and desire to take the next smaller step in making their neighborhoods stronger. This shared vision empowers them to make small bets.

These small bets may begin with participating in public comment at a council meeting or organizing an information table at the weekly farmers market. These small bets are occurring at scale in hundreds of communities across North America. These actions are infiltrating conversations from coast to coast. All of these small bets are resulting in a shift in the conversation.

It’s important to share the impact Strong Towns members are having within their communities. Each of you is part of a movement with a growing, combined voice. Each of your actions inspires others to join in this movement.

Through this broad collaboration, the conversation is shifting. Communities are prioritizing values and clarifying objectives. More cities are doing the math. Each year, more and more citizens are elected or appointed to boards with platforms that push back on the Suburban Experiment. The work each of you does as a member ensures that projects add value and grow your community’s wealth.

Strong Towns membership is a form of collaboration. This movement is only possible through a growing membership. A membership that is unburdened by complicated approaches and has the sole purpose of making our communities stronger.

---

---

Strong Towns is helping local leaders, technical professionals and involved residents across North America make their communities more prosperous and financially resilient.

This movement needs you. Become a member today.