Civic engagement today is increasingly shaped by rapid responses, fragmented dialogue, and advocacy that often reduces complex issues to slogans or statements. Rather than fostering collaborative problem-solving or arriving at a shared public judgment, much of today’s engagement leeches out nuance and meaning. This session explores how civic leaders and institutions can respond to this shift with intention, reclaiming space for dialogue and community-based decision-making. In this session, you will be introduced to an adaptive framework in which public participation is understood as a crucial mechanism for achieving good governance. This webinar will highlight the pillars of community engagement, the musts for trust-building in a public process, and the clarity of purpose needed to design meaningful, collaborative public participation. Participants will become acquainted with methods that provide meaningful avenues for civic engagement where those who participate can see that their involvement matters while you successfully navigate toward goals and outcomes for projects and initiatives. The session will highlight successful community engagement strategies and projects that local jurisdictions have employed to build trust and good relationships with the public. Participants will get hands-on practice during short breakouts with methods that can foster specific levels of engagement designed for a particular purpose. Participants will leave with checklists and tools that are helpful for planning civic engagement events.