Social Media + Community Planning is a presentation originally given to the Midwest Section of the American Planning Association meeting on June 11, 2010 As social media tools reach greater levels of ubiquity, technology and conversations are meshing in new and interesting ways. Planning professionals can leverage the tools of the social web to better engage communities in meaningful conversations, strategically listen, and help make informed decisions for programs and procedures. From social networking, photo and video sharing, blogging, and more, planners have new tools to understand.

1. Social Media + Community Planning
Nimble communication with the NIMBY
and being fruitful with the BANANA crowd

2. What is social media?

3. "Social Media is a social trend
in which people use
technologies to get the things
they need from each other,
rather than from traditional
institutions."
from Groundswell by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

4. and it looks like this

5. hmmm...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87765855@N00/3105128025/

6. Put simply, social media
is people having online
conversations.

7. What about planning?

8. "Planning enables civic
leaders, businesses, and
citizens to play a
meaningful role in creating
communities that enrich
people's lives...
"Good planning helps
create communities that
offer better choices for
where and how people
live. Planning helps
communities to envision
their future."
http://www.planning.org/aboutplanning/whatisplanning.htm

9. "Technological progress is already changing the way we
interact with the built environment.
"However, our planning system is progressing at a much
slower pace, and some might say not at all. Potential
developments are stuck on a nearby lamp post, and if you
have any issues, you can write a letter or attend a meeting.
The most active contributors are the ‘NIMBY’ (not in my
backyard) and ‘BANANA’ (build absolutely nothing
anywhere near anything) crowd, halting bad developments,
but good ones too."
Could Social Media Revolutionise the Planning System?
http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/Home/32592

10. leverage social media tools
to strategically listen
to better engage communities
in meaningful conversations
help make informed decisions
for programs and procedures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/herculie/2370039001/

12. It's the People
The new communication model
is a dialogue.
We should be talking with our citizens
not at our citizens.

13. which means it's...
transparent
inclusive
authentic
vibrant
sincere
community-driven
and NOT always...
controlled
exclusive
manufactured
project-driven
"on message"

14. Social media and
strong communities

15. Social media and strong communities
Be nice
Not just a feel-good
platitude
Nice is a core belief
Let it be contagious
Think about language
being used on social
networks
It's ok to be human
http://www.flickr.com/photos/airloc/74772186/
Adapted from
http://urbanverse.posterous.com/ten-ways-to-build-strong-communities-my-notes

16. Social media and strong communities
Know your citizens
Future growth is tied to
CRM or
Customer Relations
Management
Think Citizen Relations
Management
See people as individuals
Listen to your community
Tools: Forums, database
research, Twitter
ecosystems, Facebook

17. Social media and strong communities
Status Updates and
Location are key
We have immediate local
information from a
trusted source
No longer are we
traveling alone
Cities become our Icons for four Foursquare badges,
stomping grounds including the BART-themed badge.
Tools: Foursquare, http://www.bart.
gov/news/articles/2009/news20091022.
Twitter, Facebook aspx

18. Social media and strong communities
Be compelling
Community is
distinguished by
creating a unique,
memorable perspective
Use blogs in multimedia
Video and photos tell
the story of a place
Tools: Blogs, YouTube,
Flickr, Vimeo
http://urbanverse.posterous.com/ten-ways-to-build-strong-communities-my-notes

19. Sources and additional goodies
http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/Home/32592
http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/Home/28994
http://urbanverse.posterous.com/ten-ways-to-build-strong-communities-my-notes
http://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2009/news20091022.aspx
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/grow-bigger-ears-in-10-minutes/
http://www.twellow.com/category_users/cat_id/667
http://downtownnewhaven.blogspot.com/
http://seedingthecity.org/blog
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/cool_local_places_without_tourists.php
http://theoverheadwire.blogspot.com/2010/04/bigger-thinking-on-texas-stadium-site.html
http://www.cityofsound.com/blog/2010/02/emergent-urbanism-or-bottomup-planning.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera.html

20. Contact
Richie Escovedo
richie.escovedo@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/vedo
http://nextcommunications.blogspot.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rescovedo