Engaging Community: Models and Methods for Designers and Planners
MIT OpenCourseWare's graduate seminar examines why most cities lack the infrastructure and processes needed to include a demographically complex public in civic decision-making. Students study design principles for building inclusive civic infrastructure and review real-world models of public engagement, from participatory budgeting to community design charrettes. The course includes readings on urban planning theory and case studies of engagement practices in cities facing racial, economic, and cultural diversity, along with assignments asking participants to critique and propose engagement strategies for specific neighborhoods. Materials are available through MIT OpenCourseWare at no cost, including the syllabus, assignment prompts, and reading lists, though no certificate is offered. The course targets designers and planners who want practical tools, not just theory, for working with communities that traditional public hearings tend to exclude.