Barriers to Engagement
Problem Map 1
Barriers to equitable engagement, categorized by whether they exist as part of infrastructure, process, or context. Explore the map in more detail in Miro.
Problem Map 2
Barriers to Equitable Engagement mapped onto a linear project process and stratified by whether the barriers appear in the community, with the partner, or in NDC. Explore the map in more detail in Miro.
List of Barriers
Capacity of community members
Time commitment of engagement events & the need for food and childcare.
Capacity of partners
Hours and resources that partners are able to contribute.
Capacity of volunteers
Hours that volunteers are able to commit
Community power dynamics
Relationships between community members and organizations; holders of institutional knowledge
Confirmation bias
Risk of subjectivity in interpretation of data and experiences, in order to confirm rather than test a hypothesis
Confusing design process
Community members and/or partners may not understand technical terminology & drawings.
Data denial
Refusal to believe data which contradicts one's worldview.
Digital access
Inaccessibility of the internet and digital devices for certain communities.
Distrust of public institutions
Due to past or present experience, as well as historic disinvestment of some communities, individuals may distrust the involvement of public institutions
Hesitancy towards creativity
Discomfort participating in creative activities and /or perceptions that creative activities are childish.
Literacy
Difficulty reading large quantities of text. Value of images and visual storytelling.
Lack of civic participation
Non-participation may be due to historical exclusion from participatory processes and/or a fear of public participation and its consequences.
Lack of representation in local organizations
Community-led organizations may still uphold power structures by marginalizing certain groups.
Language
Some community members may not speak English, or it may not be their first language. Consider translated materials, multilingual events, and culturally specific outreach.
Misaligned values
The values or design principles may be different between stakeholders
Overpromising
Committing to more than you can actually deliver erodes trust
Planning fatigue
History of unfulfilled participatory design processes can create distrust of new community projects
Positionality of NDC
Perception of NDC as outside experts from a majority-white nonprofit.
Self-selecting participation
Community members with the most time and who are most vocal typically participate more
Shifting roles at NDC
It takes time to readjust after project management changes at NDC
Shifting roles in the partner organization
It takes time to readjust after project management or values changes at our partner organization
Short term participants
Certain groups are only community members in the short term, like renters or youth
Time limits of the project
Funding and capacity limitations create finite timelines
Transportation access
Accessibility of an event depends on vehicle and public transportation access
Unclear engagement goals
Not knowing what influence engagement will have on the end product
Undefined deliverables
Not knowing what decisions need to be made or what the end product will be
Unstable community structure
Finding opportunities for engagement may be difficult
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