Community engagement doesn’t start at 7 PM—it starts when you actually listen.

Use the tools you already have (like Nextdoor) to capture what residents are telling you every day.

Author

Dana Berchman
July 29, 2025

In partnership with

Mr Rogers GIF by Won't You Be My Neighbor

Oh, hi!

Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t about canceling community meetings.

It’s about recognizing that a Tuesday night in your council chamber is only reaching a sliver of your population. If that’s your only channel, you're not just missing voices you’re ignoring the insights they’ve already given you.

In my latest Oh, hi! Stories episode with Joseph Porcelli from Nextdoor, we talk about how cities can stop spinning their wheels and start listening across all their platforms, not just in person.

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🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Online

I’ve been promoting Nextdoor for years, not because it’s trendy, but because it works. It’s free, it’s hyperlocal, and it’s one of the few tools that truly supports digital listening at scale when used strategically.

And when you combine that with your city’s existing feedback loops—your top website searches, your 311 data, and your social trends—you get something powerful: a clear roadmap to what residents actually care about.

This alignment isn’t coincidence, it's your community clearly communicating what matters most.

❝

 If we want to increase trust, we have to focus on the experience. We’ve got to slow down, explain the process, and close the loop.

Joseph Porcelli, Head of Government and Crisis Response at Nextdoor

Then use platforms like Nextdoor to amplify your message. The real power comes from respecting residents enough to use the insights they’re already providing.

💡 Three Things You Should Know:

1️⃣ Respect residents' intellect: People engage genuinely when they feel genuinely heard.

2️⃣ Trust your data: Prioritize issues residents repeatedly highlight.

3️⃣ Engage proactively: Use tools like Nextdoor to initiate conversations—don’t wait for residents to come to you.

✅ What You Can Do Right Now:

  • Audit your city’s engagement data. The alignment between web, social, and 311 reports will guide your strategy.

  • Don’t rely on meetings alone. In addition to your in-person events, give residents at least two weeks’ notice, offer pre-reads to bring them up to speed, and post clear recaps afterward—summarizing what was discussed, the questions raised, and the answers provided.

  • Supplement meetings with targeted digital outreach so more residents can participate and stay informed on their own terms.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Online

Apply for a free public agency page on Nextdoor here.

Hit reply and tell me: What’s the #1 resident concern your city needs to address better?

Thanks for tuning in,

—Dana

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From virtual keynotes to in-person workshops, I partner with city teams, associations, and organizations to talk about what’s next in digital engagement, citizen experience, and government storytelling.

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