About the Guide

Glossary

This glossary provides definitions for key terms used throughout the Inclusive Public Engagement Guide. The terms are alphabetized, with brief definitions specific to the terms’ application throughout the Guide. Sources are provided if the term’s definition was pulled directly from a resource without being changed.

The terms Public Participation, Public Outreach, and Public Engagement are used throughout this guide. While they are related, they each have a distinct meaning. The section below illustrates the relationship between the three terms.

Terms

Accessibility: The design of materials and environments to be usable by all people and the provision of services to make them so.

Accountability: The ask of the public that the government is open and honest about the decision-making process, guided by the outcomes of meaningful public engagement and responsible for its actions and decisions.

Advocacy: A form of civic engagement that encompasses any actions that help support the interests of specific communities and/or causes.

Audience: The population or group of people that staff may inform or engage. Sometimes referred to as the “intended audience”.

Awareness: The knowledge or understanding the public has of a topic or project.

Barrier: An obstacle that prevents or hinders participation or access, often due to physical, social or systemic factors.

Bias: An unfair preference or prejudice toward or against a person or group that can impact decision-making and inclusivity.

Consultant: A professional contracted to provide specialized advice, guidance and/or service. In public engagement, a consultant can help with the design, implementation and evaluation of engagement activities.

Community-based Organization: A nonprofit or grassroots organization that advocates for specific policies, delivers community services or provides support to a specific area or population of people.

Community Members: People who live, work and/or play in San Diego.

Community Planning Group: Independent organizations made up of volunteer members that are recognized by the City to make recommendations to City decision-makers on certain development projects, long-range planning policies in plans and Citywide zoning and development.

Comparison Group: The actual demographic group chosen for comparison with the Engagement Group. Depending on the project, this group may encompass a citywide, community-level or smaller population. Also see “Engagement Group” for further details.

Culture: The values, attitudes and beliefs of a community.

Decision-maker: Any staff, appointed official or elected member of the City that makes decisions on behalf of the City.

Demographics: The statistical data that characterize a population, such as age, race and income.

Discrimination: An action or practice that excludes, disadvantages, or differentiates between people based on some ascribed or perceived trait such as race, age or nationality. Source: Oxford Bibliographies

Disparities: A measure that indicates a difference between specific groups or populations; the difference can lead to adverse outcomes.

Diversity: The presence of differences within a given setting, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and more.

Engagement Group: The engagement event participants whose characteristics can be compared to overall citywide, community-level or smaller populations. Also see “Comparison Group” for further details.

Equity: Occurs when each person’s different circumstances are recognized and resources and opportunities are allocated for them to reach an equal outcome.

Ethnicity: The identification of one’s shared cultural or national background. A separate concept from race. The Inclusive Public Engagement Guide follows the U.S. Census’ demography convention of “Latino and Hispanic ethnicity” as independent from race. Source: U.S. Census

Exclusion: The act of preventing groups of people or communities access through various means, including policies, practices and procedures.

Facilitation: A process used to help a group of people or parties have constructive discussions about a project or perspectives. A facilitator can help create an environment where all parties are respected, welcomed and feel comfortable participating.

Inclusion: The action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure. More than simply diversity and numerical representation, inclusion involves authentic and meaningful participation and a true sense of belonging.

Input: The opinions, ideas, suggestions and feedback on topics or projects collected from the public.

Intersectionality: An approach arguing that classifications such as gender, race, class, sexual orientation, nationality and others cannot be examined in isolation from one another; they interact and intersect in individuals’ lives, in society, in social systems and affect each other.

Liaison: The person or people who serve as the connection between different entities.

Majority: A group comprised of more than half of the total population or sample.

Marginalization: The systematic isolation of people or groups from resources necessary to thrive.

Notice: The process of informing the public about engagement opportunities, project updates or other news.

Policy: A formal statement of principles or guidelines established by a governing body, outlining its approach to a specific issue or area of operation.

Prejudice: A preconceived attitude or biased judgment about a person or group of people that can lead to discriminatory practices and exclusion. Source: EBSCO

Project: A general term used throughout the Guide to describe City policies, programs, plans and initiatives.

(the) Public: Community members, businesses and organizations that the City serves.

Public Engagement: The process of including stakeholders in actions that affect them, so that their input and perspectives are factored into decisions. Public engagement includes the consult, involve, collaborate and empower levels of public participation.

Public Participation: The processes through which people receive information from and provide input to decision-makers.

Public Outreach: One-way efforts to inform the public about City projects.

Race: The social grouping of people, often based on physical characteristics, national origin or sociocultural groups. The U.S. Census notes that the collection of race data does not attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically or genetically. Source: U.S. Census

Representation: The inclusion and portrayal of diverse groups so that different voices and perspectives are acknowledged and considered.

Stakeholder: A community member, business or organization interested in and/or affected by a project.

Structural Exclusion: Systems intentionally created to exclude, marginalize and oppress groups of people or specific communities.

Transparency: The act of providing community members with information about what the government is doing.

Underrepresentation: Refers to certain groups of people, based on characteristics such as age, race, gender, or income, that are not proportionately represented in various activities or processes when compared to the general population.