The Future of Community Engagement: 2025 Outlook

As we embark on a new year, I'm ready to share my predictions for the future of community engagement in 2025. As we adapt to evolving social needs, political landscapes, and community growth, there are 5 key ways I think we’ll see community engagement respond.

Building on trends I explored in last year's article, here are my predictions for how the field of community engagement will evolve in 2025.

1. Hyperlocal Engagement: One of the most significant trends will be a shift toward hyperlocal engagement. In 2025 we'll see a rise in grassroots community outreach, a focus on smaller settings. Government agencies may view these smaller gatherings, and refraining from casting a wide net, as less risky in an era of civic cynicism. This may look like inviting stakeholders to connect over meaningful conversations in curated settings. This also means identifying folks invested in project outcomes (i.e. stakeholder development), will be a large part of the engagement process.

2. Compensation: Recognizing the value of the time and expertise lent by community members during public engagement is a trend I believe will continue to grow. We saw this kind of thing expand in 2024, and in our post-pandemic world, compensating community members for participation is increasingly common, and for good reason. It is one tool to increase equitable participation access, reduce barriers, and build goodwill.

3. Virtual, AI-powered Engagement: In a post-pandemic world, virtual engagement remains a critical tool for reaching constituents. When meeting in person is considered risky by many (respiratory infection and influenza rates are still high), and amid busy schedules, virtual options allow folks to learn and contribute. Governments will continue to be forced to innovate and provide more accessible information formatting. Think video shorts with captions, shareable graphics, and accessible digital products. Inclusive and equitable access to information is the standard, and in the age of AI, it is more expected than ever.

As highlighted in a recent Bloomberg Cities article, AI-enabled tools can enhance accessibility by translating languages, personalizing outreach, and identifying potential barriers to participation. With these tools at our disposal, there will be a continued focus on AI-enabled community engagement.

4. Navigating a Changing Political Landscape: The political climate will undoubtedly influence community engagement strategies. We can expect to see a range of approaches, with some states embracing innovative techniques while others return to more traditional outreach methods. I expect more than a few governments to return to traditional marketing like television and radio for community-wide initiatives.

5. Economic Outlook: The landscape is shifting. A recent Goldman Sachs Exchanges podcast reveals that the incoming administration signals a shift toward a privatized economy. This may translate to less government-directed spending and an emphasis on higher corporate earnings. Not only would this lead to slower overall economic growth, but this will also mean significant changes in community engagement. It will be critical for practitioners to remain agile and quick to adapt. As stewards of public resources, engagement professionals are accountable for ensuring their efficient and impactful use.

As we move into 2025, community engagement will be forced to become even more agile. Those of us in the field will be tasked with developing innovative strategies to support public initiatives addressing complex social issues like climate change and public health, while simultaneously working to repair past harms and preparing society for a challenging future.

Public projects will expand employment support programs for low-income workers. There will also be an increase in government initiatives to ensure affordable housing for essential workers such as teachers and frontline personnel. These will require robust community engagement, even if on a shoestring budget.

As an engagement firm, Civility Localized will focus on actively advocating for young and marginalized people to be involved in decision-making by employing them and advocating for their ideas.

We are committed to driving best practices in equitable community engagement. We're skilled at increasing capacity for governments shaping public participation experiences, and we actively explore innovative solutions like AI-powered tools to ensure everyone has a voice in the process. Strategies like these, and more, will be essential for building a resilient future.

I’m proud to run a firm that centers community voices and operates by the motto Engage Different. Together with those who govern, we improve public life for all Americans, and that’s something to be proud of, and look forward to.