Tierra de Rosas Community Engagement
Sonoma County wanted input from residents of the Roseland neighborhood, but they knew it would be challenging. The County was midway through a multi-year redevelopment project that would bring in new housing, parks and commercial opportunities, and it was time to check in with the community before the next phase of work. However, Roseland is a low-income, mostly Spanish-speaking community and residents historically were not heavily involved in planning processes. Especially in the current political context, residents were afraid to attend government meetings.
The County hired CPC, and we knew that we wanted to bring popup events to the community, so people did not have to travel to participate. We also knew they needed to be fun, so we had bright displays, food, and door prizes. Most importantly, we knew we needed the community’s trust, so we partnered with three local organizations deeply connected with the Roseland community to shape engagement activities and broaden participation. Not only did this help increase participation but allowed CPC to offer stipends to community partners so financial resources flowed back into the neighborhood. Engagement activities included:
Bilingual community survey with almost 100 responses, available on paper and online in Spanish and English
Two focus groups, with community-based organizations, including one conducted in Spanish
Two pop-up events, with snacks and gift cards offered to people passing by at the Boys and Girls Club of Roseland and at the Roseland Regional Library
Print and digital outreach materials developed for distribution throughout the neighborhood and online, including informational handouts, posters, and a vinyl banner on the construction site fence
Together, these efforts created meaningful opportunities to hear from the broader Roseland community - including voices often underrepresented in traditional community meetings – helping to inform the project’s next phase and shape the vision for the civic and commercial areas.
