Have you ever turned on the TV and heard something that upset you to the point that you were motivated to go to a town hall meeting or village forum? You may have been fired up when you got there, but then once you asked a few questions, and shared your thoughts you realized maybe it wasn’t as bad as you initially thought.
For the past few nights, we’ve helped facilitate public meetings that introduced residents to a potential transportation project in Chicago. Some residents came to the meetings upset because they feared the worst about the project.
During these public meetings, which were set up in an open house format, residents had an opportunity to ask their questions, receive some answers and understand how they can make a difference in their communities.
As people were leaving we heard comments such as, “I felt like my concerns were being heard,” and, “I think service is getting better.”
Effective communications can help make the information-gathering process more transparent, address incorrect information and calm the fears of residents.
-- Lisa Soard
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