However, citizen participation in successful communities is also characterized by the outlook that individuals, as members of the community, have a stake in the future of the whole community, not simply their own particular demographic group, organization, part of town, or issue focus. Moreover, the key leaders of successful communities realize that citizens must be empowered to have real influence over community decisions. Citizens are too sophisticated to accept the role of only advising officials and community leaders who may or may not accept their advice. Correlatively, this means that citizens must be engaged in decision-making processes from the beginning. A town meeting, for example, is called for citizens to confirm the pre-determined conclusions of their governmental leaders.
Successful communities engage citizens in the initial stages of policy-making processes.
Governmental leaders go to neighborhoods, find out what people think, find out their needs and concerns and then develop a plan based in response to that proactive input. Drew O'Connor, Assistant Director of the National Civic League's Community Services, reports that the most successful of these cities have one thing in common. Communities that succeed today recognize that power can't be concentrated in traditional government leadership positions such as mayors, city managers and board chairs. The rest of us have to step up and get involved. As the era of big government fades away, the era of civic engagement is moving in.