Connect the Dots

What do you think the biggest challenges facing public engagement in 2026 are?

We recently hosted “The State of Engagement 2026: What This Moment Requires,” a conversation on the changes and challenges facing us in the world of public engagement today. If you weren’t able to join us, a short summary and recording are now available here: https://connectthedots.us/2026/06/state-of-engagement-2026

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend, and especially to our guest speakers, Milzy Carrasco - Director of Neighborhood Engagement, City of Lancaster, PA Engagement, Shoshana Akins - Manager of Public Participation Planning, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and Tya Winn - Executive Director, Community Design Collaborative.

This work can’t be done alone and these shared insights help create stronger and more effective moments of connection across people and projects.

🗣️ OPPORTUNITY: We're looking for energetic, outgoing, bilingual people to join our outreach and engagement Field Team!

This is an on-call contracted position and pays $34.50/hr for bilingual Cantonese speakers.

Apply today to support with events now between June and July! 🖇️https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfykkjzTIZaUBTBIj94kGpfkwpNk20OJBhmGOm35ZUM5ZOn4A/viewform

We attended the Chinese Christian Church & Center Carnival 🎊 event on Saturday, June 6th to share updates about updates about the City of Philadelphia's Chinatown Stitch project and gather feedback on the park playground design!

🧵 Want to learn more about the Chinatown Stitch, see the current designs, and share feedback on the playground, Winter Street design, and future connection to the Rail Park? 🪡 Visit the website at bit.ly/chinatownstitch or take the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/chinatownstitchsurvey!

Can you tell what's in these boxes? It's pop-up materials packed for an event in NJ!

Understanding how the public wants to be included before designing an engagement strategy can make the engagement process more effective and successful. We went to Swedesboro-Woolwich Family Fun Day to ask residents and visitors how they want to participate in their own parks & open spaces design in Woolwich Township.

At our tent, you could draw a favorite part about Woolwich and display on the daisy chain or share which tactics were best suited for engagement. In the end meaningful conversations and insights were heard from kids, teens, and adults!

Reminder to RSVP! If you’re interested in the conversation on the changing landscape of public engagement, now’s your chance. Join us on Wednesday for the “State of Engagement 2026: What This Moment Requires” to hear perspectives grounded in real project experience, and share honest reflections and learned lessons across sectors.

RSVP now: https://tinyurl.com/SOE26

🕟 In one week, we’re hosting “The State of Engagement 2026: What This Moment Requires,” to discuss what engagement looks like in practice today together with public sector leaders and partners and how we’re evolving to match the moment.

Our updated list of guest speakers welcomes:

Milzy Carrasco - Director of Neighborhood Engagement, City of Lancaster, PA
Shoshana Akins - Manager of Public Participation Planning, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Tya Winn - Executive Director, Community Design Collaborative

✅ RSVP for the free virtual event: https://tinyurl.com/SOE26

📥 You can also share your thoughts now in a digital comment board: https://padlet.com/ConnectTheDots/SOE2026

Here are Sylvia and Stephanie at Day 1 of the Monument Lab Summit and fuller now from the thought-provoking and impressive speakers.

To borrow a word from the day--we are IGNITED with ideas and inspiration for what working with the public can evolve into.

Day 2 is sure to be just as compelling!

*In a rapidly changing world like ours, the challenges we face shift just as quickly. It’s important to take a moment to reflect on how we can adapt ourselves to the needs of today. On May 20, Connect the Dots will be hosting “The State of Engagement 2026: What This Moment Requires,” a candid conversation on changes and challenges in the world of public engagement right now.

During the discussion, you’ll hear our perspectives as well as those of our peers in the public engagement field, with guest speakers (UPDATED):
- Milzy Carrasco, Director of Neighborhood Engagement, City of Lancaster, PA
- Tya Winn, Executive Director, Community Design Collaborative
- Shoshana Akins, Manager of Public Participation Planning, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

There’s still time to RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/SOE26

Curiosity can invite questions and smiles. We took a creative spin on hand-crafting a conversation starter for a pop-up about the Philadelphia Parking Authority's Automated Trolley Enforcement program by wearing a trolley costume.

If you attended the The Food Trust Clark Park Farmer's Market this past Saturday, hopefully we made you look! Or curious enough to stop for a chat.

Now you know that Automated Enforcement is fully underway with Hayden AI cameras installed on SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) T lines and the G to make it safer to get on and off the trolleys, improve schedule reliability, and Keep Philly Moving!

Public engagement is getting harder and more important at the same time. That’s why we at Connect the Dots are hosting a conversation, "The State of Engagement 2026: What This Moment Requires".

Between major public events, shifting social and political landscapes, and growing public fatigue, the context for engagement is changing quickly. We want to discuss what engagement looks like in practice today together with public sector leaders and partners.

Grab a seat at the table on May 20, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. EST as we explore:
- What has changed in the engagement landscape?
- What currently feels challenging and why?
- What is working right now?
- What needs to evolve moving forward and how is Connect the Dots matching the moment?

Whether you’re designing engagement processes, leading public-facing work, or navigating participation challenges, this conversation is designed to help us all step back, reflect, and move forward with greater clarity.

RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/SOE26