Fostering interaction and engagement
8 May 2019
It is not enough to just accommodate all of the various demographic groups in downtown; the goal should really be to encourage interaction and engagement within the downtown area. While infrastructure and amenities can be designed to foster spontaneous interactions, as discussed in last week’s post, programs can also be designed to actively promote engagement and interaction among like-minded individuals.
For instance, Dodge County, Wisconsin’s first Blue Zones community, has implemented numerous events and activities designed to foster social interaction, such as running groups, history walks, potluck dinners and educational classes on a variety of topics (with the added benefit of recognizing the talents of local residents). Another example of more direct programming to enhance engagement is Wisconsin’s YPWeek initiative, which recognizes and engages young professionals in more than 20 communities with coordinated programming and events annually each February.
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