Public Engagement

Bringing Communities Together for Real Change

Great projects start with great conversations. At Highland Planning, we help communities have meaningful discussions that lead to lasting positive change. Since 2007, we’ve facilitated thousands of conversations across New York State and the Northeastern United States.

We create genuine connections between people and their communities.

Our Services:

Our Public Engagement Toolbox

Every community deserves to be heard. Our approach ensures all voices matter – from longtime residents to newcomers, from business owners to community activists.

We meet people where they are with tools and techniques that work for your community.

The Highland Way of Public Engagement

Every community deserves to be heard. Based upon the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) methodology, our approach ensures all voices matter – from longtime residents to newcomers, from business owners to community activists. Our proven five-step process:

Listen to the Community

We strive to deeply understand each community’s unique attributes. Our team interviews key stakeholders to uncover hot-button issues, risks, and opportunities to engage efficiently and effectively.

Make a Plan

Our detailed public engagement plans outline the process, tools, schedule, communications strategy, and more to guide your project’s success.

Make it Happen

Our team then handles all the logistics. We organize virtual and in-person engagement opportunities, including agendas, invitations, technology, and facilitation.

Facilitate Dialogue

Our specialized facilitation training allows us to expertly manage balanced discussions, disruptive participants, and contentious situations.

Showcase Results

Documenting the engagement process is as important as the activities. We’ll demonstrate how public input shapes the plan or project, builds trust, and listens to the community.

What Makes Our Engagement Different

Inclusive & Accessible. We hold events in welcoming spaces that everyone can reach. Materials are available in multiple languages when needed. We design activities for all ages and abilities.
Aligned With Your Goals. Every engagement plan connects directly to your project needs. We help you understand which decisions the community can influence and communicate that clearly.
Community-Centered. We listen with empathy and respond to what we hear. Participants receive food and thank-you gifts to show we value their time.
Results-Focused. We track all input and show exactly how community feedback shapes final decisions. This builds trust for future projects.

We’ve successfully facilitated engagement for:

14,000+ participants in Monroe County’s Regional Transit Service study & redesign

1,200+ residents in City of Rochester’s Urban Forest Plan

800+ survey responses for Rhode Island’s statewide housing plan

750+ participants in New York State’s transportation planning

Our work has won multiple awards from the American Planning Association for excellence in public outreach.

Ready to start meaningful conversations in your community? We’re here to help you listen, engage, and build support for positive change.

Contact us at 585-504-1672 or admin@highland-planning.com

Let’s see what we can create together.

Use the form below to get in touch.