Read the application

Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan

Media Coverage: Hillsboro Tribune

What the judges said:

• The judges were duly impressed by the comprehensive nature of the Hillsboro project and the multi-faceted approach and techniques that were employed to reach as many different segments of the community as possible.
• Hillsboro was one of our first winners of the Core Values Project of the Year Award 15 years ago, it became crystal clear that we were witnessing the kind of institutionalized and enduring commitment to public participation that is the hallmark of an organization that has built the Core Values into its fabric.
• There are many lessons to be learned from the multiple ways that Hillsboro has made public participation a standard way of doing business, perhaps one of the most striking proofs was a “Fun Fact” that frankly knocked us out: “seven of our volunteer committee members have gone on to hold a variety of elected offices.”

Read the application

What the judges said:

• This unique partnership of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Maxwell School of Citizen and Public Affairs created an innovative combination of research and practice, appropriately recognizing the important role of patients in reducing diagnostic errors in health care, supplementing the traditional approach of relying solely on physician and healthcare system input.
• The partnership utilized a Citizen Jury approach designed to "empower" participants and provide them with opportunities to truly impact change. This is an approach that is very far advanced along the "Spectrum of Public Participation" and one that is not often observed in engagement efforts.

Read the application

What the judges said:

• This project accomplished two important things – first, the process ensured that everyone in the community is aware of their risk, a fact that is not true in most communities today. Second, the process impacted the decision-making about which strategic investments to make to manage future risk based on public participation. Decision makers were willing to place the decision in the hands of the public – not usually done outside of elections.
• It is a fantastic model for the kind of public conversation communities need to be having in the age of climate change, as community risk changes.
• The level of detail in flood risk analysis, at the property level, involved an incredible level of effort and sophisticated flood analysis tools, providing the public with important information upon which to base future decisions on land use.
• Not simply accepting that a community cannot change after they have worked to stop a project that is in the best interest of the public, but rather recognized the value of early engagement to come to a common understanding of the problem and the need for change.

Read the application

What the judges said:

• This project faced and overcame a number of challenges in a congested urban environment.
• The judges were impressed with the SFMTA’s commitment to pushing the envelope and risking the use of new techniques that were not a part of the organization’s normal repertoire, including the pre-construction survey, business advisory committee and multilingual interactive text campaign.
• The fact that this project is now serving as a model and inspiration for further innovation and advances in the organization’s public participation practices is further testament to the value of this project.

"The Van Ness Improvement Project team had to be creative in finding ways to inform and engage with the community for a 3-year construction project along a major corridor in the City and County of San Francisco. At the onset, from legislating parking changes to pre-construction surveys, we have deployed a multi-channel approach including: traditional mailers, posters and notices as well as door-to-door canvassing, text surveys, email marketing campaigns. In addition, we’ve been holding walking tours, 'Meet the Expert' events and workshops to continue to stay top of mind for the community. We are proud to say that all the information we have gathered has informed the construction sequencing which will help us establish and maintain good relations with the community while building the first Bus Rapid Transit in San Francisco."
—Lulu Feliciano, SFMTA Outreach Manager

Read the application

Media Coverage: StarTribune (pdf)
Redesigning a School District, Journal of the
American Institute of Architects, February 2017 (pdf) 

What the judges said:

• The Facilities Planning project, a massive well-organized effort which reflects the needs and priorities of those who will actually use the resulting buildings is inspiring. You recognized that the usual way of “doing business” wasn’t working and you had the courage to change your approach by actively and thoroughly involving those most affected by the outcome.
• Based on the results of your Board’s unanimous adoption of all plans and the high scoring evaluation results show you have achieved a culture change.
• The active involvement of your architects and their participation in a racial equity workshop was remarkable.
• You not only challenged the status quo, but got all of the key players to recognize a better way of doing business.