Community Connectors-in-Residence: 2025 Highlights

Since the launch of the city’s Engagement Strategic Framework in November of 2017, staff have supported a shift in engagement culture, ensuring that city decision-making is more inclusive and meaningful. This has included a focus on identifying and removing barriers to engagement opportunities as well as co-designing sessions with historically excluded communities so there are fewer barriers to engagement in the first place. The city’s Community Connectors model, first piloted in the spring of 2018, represents a giant leap forward in this approach to community engagement.  

The Community Connector-in-Residence program was specifically co-designed with community members to support the voices and building power within historically excluded communities by reducing barriers to community engagement, advancing racial equity, and surfacing the ideas, concerns, and dreams of community members.

Continued advances in inclusive engagement practices help to ensure more thorough decision-making, increase the diversity of public participation, and build trust between historically excluded communities and city government.

Community Connectors continue to build civic capacity among historically excluded community members by identifying engagement barriers and facilitating their co-designed, two-hour “Building Power & Raising Voices” sessions. These sessions strengthen belonging and trust in local government, build skills to share perspectives and influence decisions, increase understanding of city systems and surface community aspirations and challenges.

Connectors also piloted a new “Strengthening Community & Taking Action” session, building on earlier engagement sessions with a deeper focus on self-advocacy and civic action. Topics include Know Your Rights, Identity, Local Government and Commitment Circles. 

Key Results:

• 75% of participants reported increased sense of belonging and knowledge of how to participate in city decision-making
• 91% of participants in follow-up sessions gained confidence in sharing their perspectives with city government

Community Strengths Themes:

• Our natural setting of mountains
• People of Boulder
• A calm and small city
• Bilingual schools

Community Issues Themes:

• Increase in cost of living, including housing, groceries, and medical
• Shortage of resources for youth, including mental health
• Scarcity of support and opportunities for immigrants
• Need to increase diverse representation in city and county leadership

Community Connectors reviewed and provided feedback on ten major city initiatives through our Racial Equity Instrument process and shared a clear pathway for staff to hear feedback that centers the lived experiences of historically excluded communities.

• Access Management and Parking Strategy 
• Arts Blueprint 
• Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan 
• Civic Area Phase 2 
• Climate Action Plan 
• Healthy Buildings Stronger Communities Roadmap 
• Traffic Stop Form 
• Volunteer Cooperative Youth Opportunities  
• Water Budget and Rate Study 
• Water Utility Assistance Program  

As one of the biggest engagement projects the city conducts, Community Connectors consulted extensively with staff on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update, sharing perspectives on equity, housing, local food access and agricultural policies.

Key themes included:

• Land Use & Leasing: smaller plots, cooperative models, simpler applications, transparency.
• Climate Resilience: livestock grazing to reduce wildfire risk, soil regeneration, diversified crops.
• Agricultural Workforce Housing: affordable, seasonal options; reduced regulatory barriers.

Connectors also visited Jacob Springs Farm, owned by Boulder's first person of color to lease working lands from the city. They learned about local agriculture and identified policy improvements for farmers with less experience or financial means.

Community Connectors presented their work at two national conferences in 2025:

• ICMA Local Government Reimagined Conference – Connectors showcased how Boulder centers historically excluded communities in budget decisions
• Government Alliance on Race & Equity Local Meeting – Connectors shared the Community Connector model with local government staff across the front range

Monthly dinner gatherings with city leaders strengthened relationships and understanding of city systems.

Guests included the Mayor, City Council members, City Manager, Public Works leadership, Boulder Fire-Rescue and Police Oversight Panel members.

Recognizing the emotional labor involved in this work, the city coordinated well-being programming featuring meditation, massage therapy and mindful compassion sessions. Since launching this program, Connectors report feeling more equipped to support community members and maintain relationships without burnout.

Community Connectors will continue engaging in dialogue with community members, reviewing city projects to include racial equity and keeping City Council updated on community strengths and concerns.

• Learn more about the Community Connectors-in-Residence program and find opportunities to get involved.