What is the State of Engagement in 2026? by Connect the Dots

ConnectTheDots — 2026-04-23 15:06:53 UTC

Click to watch the 1-minute video. Closed captions are available.

2026-05-20 18:59:19 UTC

Social media as a tool for outreach

2026-05-20 19:02:15 UTC

There are too many silos of communication and media platforms. Getting the word out for engagement or even promotion is harder and harder.

2026-05-20 19:10:48 UTC

"Closing the loop" once you've done the engagement and you come back to analyze that internally, its hard to convince internal people to share it again with the outside engagement group. Everyone is afraid of sharing the wrong thing at the wrong time. Accountability has to be built in from the start

2026-05-20 19:12:57 UTC

Momentum from increased equity after 2020 is faltering.

2026-05-20 19:13:16 UTC

Building trust and credibility is more difficult.

2026-05-20 19:14:48 UTC

An overall fear from participants. If I participate in this thing, what does it say about me? Will there be retaliation if I say the wrong thing? What if this is political and Im on the wrong side? These are all things Ive heard from people participating in outreach and engagement sessions

2026-05-20 19:16:53 UTC

Finding physical space to be with other people long enough to engage. It feels like everyone has become so protective over space that even setting up an engagement session can be a huge hurtle

2026-05-20 19:19:45 UTC

Paying people to participate. They need that direct and immediate insensitive otherwise they struggle to see how it benifits them

2026-06-04 15:03:53 UTC

Shrinking budgets

2026-06-04 15:04:14 UTC

Impacted by grant cut backs

2026-06-04 15:05:14 UTC

Shrinking attendance at public meetings and steering committee meetings

2026-06-04 15:05:57 UTC

Fatigue across the board/less interaction

2026-06-04 15:06:30 UTC

Perceived competition for limited funding can lead to isolation over collaboration

2026-06-04 15:06:45 UTC

A community desire for more engagement, but shrinking budgets are difficult - Texas

2026-06-04 15:06:59 UTC

communication overload

2026-06-04 15:07:13 UTC

More people want a digital option rather than in person

2026-06-04 15:07:25 UTC

AI !!

2026-06-04 15:07:36 UTC

meeting fatigue

2026-06-04 15:07:54 UTC

International events that impact local communities in the US

2026-06-04 15:08:04 UTC

It seems harder to help people engage before a crisis.

2026-06-04 15:08:26 UTC

silos of information, algorithms that shape/limit what people see

2026-06-04 15:08:40 UTC

public's distrust of govt institutions

2026-06-04 15:08:50 UTC

Shifting political priorities and less federal funding.

2026-06-04 15:09:04 UTC

Shifting priorities

2026-06-04 15:11:53 UTC

Changing Weather due to climate change

2026-06-04 15:12:02 UTC

Political division and less face-to-face interaction

2026-06-04 15:12:14 UTC

Equity and inclusion now have negative connotations

2026-06-04 15:12:23 UTC

Hate crime is up

2026-06-04 15:12:41 UTC

Individuals that work together aren't a team!

2026-06-04 15:13:10 UTC

Question: how are teams adapting project communications to address increased federal fiscal scrutiny and the push for 'government efficiency' metrics (or banned/not-banned words and terms) on public AEC projects?

2026-06-04 15:13:23 UTC

It's hard for people to focus on the future when their present is lacking resources or other things that affect their quality of life..

2026-06-04 15:13:44 UTC

Inflation - operating costs going up for all

2026-06-04 15:13:58 UTC

engagement fatigue even though many grant funded projects require robust public input to pay for consulting services

2026-06-04 15:14:34 UTC

People have so many opinions and don't show up

2026-06-04 15:14:41 UTC

Instability.

2026-06-04 15:15:28 UTC

there's a level of political reactivity at the local level to the loudest voices in the room, who can sideline projects, even when they are in the public's best interests. No matter how much public engagement has been conducted, there can be an overreaction on the part of elected officials and their appointees to make the angry voices stop, at the cost of doing the right thing

2026-06-04 15:19:49 UTC

2026-06-04 15:20:01 UTC

Inability to reach people who haven't been at the table.

2026-06-04 15:20:17 UTC

too much planning when wanting implementation

2026-06-04 15:20:32 UTC

projects still pushing for virtual engagement but nothing in person

2026-06-04 15:21:00 UTC

lack of follow through - quickly move on to put out next 'fire'

2026-06-04 15:21:38 UTC

Organizational inertia to growing engagement systems

2026-06-04 15:22:14 UTC

engagement, inclusivity, and trust building is critical... and incredibly difficult right now,

2026-06-04 15:22:37 UTC

All of these is very negative. but we have perspective, strengths, talents, skills, inspiration etc.

2026-06-04 15:22:55 UTC

Yes, there has been a much needed shift away from top-down decision making to community engagement & inclusion

2026-06-04 15:23:23 UTC

These need to be sent to state organizations that still require old, static engagement activities to be implemented as part of their grant programs - these are extremely helpful