Working with people you don't agree with, or who have very different interests, is a good way to find creative answers. You can learn how to get groups to work together effectively and efficiently, and how to break down barriers between projects and agencies that keep common-sense solutions out of reach. Design makes a difference. The details of how a place is put together help determine how well it works. You can learn just by looking around you.
Most communities still have at least fragments of neighborhoods that work fairly well.
They are also often threatened by surrounding conventional development. Learn to compare patterns, figure out what works, and what to do about it. Average folks are able to see the big picture. If you live in a place, and plan to stay, you are often able to see the big picture. Public servants can rise above their current job descriptions.