Report showcases successful community engagement tactics.

• Position: Brief article

A new report from the National League of Cities of highlights effective community engagement efforts in 14 communities across the United States. The case studies, which focus closely on innovative work in Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Austin, show new pockets of civic energy emerging in different sectors. The report, Bright Spots in Community Engagement: Case Studies of U.S. Communities Creating Greater Civic Participation from the Bottom Up, provides new engagement tactics communities can use to become more inclusive and more innovative.

The report features the diverse forms of engagement that are gaining traction in communities across the country, including the use of open data, participatory budgeting with public funds, citywide strategic planning, and community-based funding initiatives. Findings also revealed that sustained engagement translate into economic gains for communities.

Additional findings include the following:

* A...