Apply to be a Downtown Places Projects Community Connector

In the next five years, the City of Boulder plans to invest significantly in enhancing Downtown. This initiative includes upgrading parks and public spaces, improving utilities, and enhancing transportation. These efforts aim to make Downtown Boulder a more enjoyable and vibrant place for residents, visitors, and businesses.

The improvements will commence in 2024, with numerous projects occurring simultaneously.

The city recruited two Community Connectors in early 2024 to ensure historically excluded communities participate in the planning and decision-making processes and that their voices are heard in the planning and design of downtown places. Due to unforeseen circumstances, one of the Downtown Community Connectors has stepped down from the role; and the city is now seeking to fill the vacancy.

Collaborating with the same community connectors across projects is expected to lead to a more cohesive and meaningful approach to engagement and equity. Not all projects will require the same level of support from Community Connectors. A workplan will be developed to help anticipate the timing and nature of the input needed across the numerous projects.

The community connector will have the opportunity to work with several city staff and consultants to influence the engagement processes and ultimate recommendations for these places below.

The two Downtown Community Connectors will work closely with each other and with project teams to ensure a diversity, inclusion and equity lens for (i) communications and engagement and (ii) project recommendations. This scope of work is limited to the city’s needs for community connector support for 2024-2025.

Needs beyond 2025 shall be evaluated in the future.

The needs for support and advice from the Connectors will vary from project to project. A sample of expected tasks is listed below.

General

1. Orientation for the new Connector (Sept. 2024)
2. Participate in city-organized trainings (e.g. racial equity instrument, role of government, gearing up for engagement – dates TBD)
3. Participate in project specific orientations in line with project kick-offs (multiple)
4. Attend meetings with project teams and engagement staff

Communications & engagement

• Advise project teams on the issues that are likely to be of highest interest to/highest impact on historically excluded communities
• Shape/co-design the communications and engagement approach to ensure the city will hear diverse perspectives
  • Advise on inclusive logistics (e.g., promotional materials, meeting locations, times, language access, food, incentives for participation etc)
  • Help refine engagement questions
  • Identify key people/organizations to consult with
  • Advise on translation/interpretation needs
  • Advise on best channels for sharing project process, engagement opportunities and summaries of feedback
• Review communications and outreach materials (for example to ensure that materials can be easily understood, are relevant for the audience and that our engagement questions are clear and relevant)
• Review initial translation of project documents to ensure easy-to-understand terminology is used (relevant for Spanish speaking connectors)
• Raise awareness and understanding of the projects with historically excluded communities
• Encourage participation of the following communities and support intentional outreach:
  • Historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (Hispanic/Latinx, Black, Nepali, and Indigenous) – both English and non-English speakers
  • Immigrant and mixed-immigration status families
  • Low-income residents – prioritizing renters in affordable housing units and homeowners/renters in manufactured housing communities
  • Residents over 65 years old
  • Youth
  • People with disabilities
• Co-design and/or co-facilitate meetings, to help ensure a welcoming space and meaningful and inclusive engagement.
• Participate in a working group (where relevant)
• Support the analysis of community input
• Help evaluate engagement and make suggestions to improve

Racial equity strategies

• Advise on racial equity strategies in addition to engagement
• Help develop impactful project recommendations based on community feedback received

Project teams may request additional support not listed above but also related to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the process and the outcomes.

The required qualifications are:

• Passionate about shaping our city to be more inclusive, diverse and equitable
• Currently living in the City of Boulder
• Member of a historically excluded community (including black, Latino, indigenous, person of color, live in affordable housing, person with a disability, previously unhoused, low-income, LGBTQIA, immigrant)

Some additional preferred (but not required) qualifications are:

• Experienced community leader
• Experience working with the City of Boulder as a Community Connector-in-Residence or Emergency Response Connector

• $24 per hour
• Minimum 10 hours per month
• Travel allowance of $35/month (no receipts required)
• Printing costs can be reimbursed at cost with a receipt (seek approval prior to printing)

Payment will be directly from the City of Boulder to the connector’s bank account. Payment will not be through gift card for this assignment. Support on some weekends and evenings is anticipated but will be requested with advance notice.

Payment is issued by check or direct deposit. Connectors will be required to submit a W-9, City of Boulder Vendor Form, and Affidavit of Legal Residency to receive stipend payment. These are a requirement for this position.

Vivian Castro-Wooldridge, Engagement Team

Email: castrowooldridgev@bouldercolorado.gov

Mobile: 303-548-4769