Swannanoa steering committee urges targeted outreach after workshops show low participation by Black and Latino residents

Members of the Swannanoa steering committee raised persistent concerns that recent design workshops did not reach a representative cross‑section of the community, particularly Black, Latino and renter households.

"There was no people of color," said Speaker 12 (Participant), describing the December workshop attendance and urging more proactive, targeted outreach to faith communities, schools and affordable housing sites.

Other committee members and staff acknowledged the shortfall. Speaker 8 (Participant) said staff will review participation data, prioritize direct outreach to the African American and Hispanic communities in the next engagement window and discuss any timeline implications with management and commissioners.

Participants recommended specific outreach tactics including: tabling at food distribution and blessing events, distributing bilingual paper materials, partnering with trusted local organizations and faith leaders, holding workshops at schools or parent‑group meetings, and visiting Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit apartment buildings to solicit input. Speaker 9 (Participant) pointed to recent local pressures—high‑profile immigration enforcement events, EBT interruptions and an unusually high number of eviction filings in November—that likely reduced turnout and increased the need for on‑the‑ground, co‑designed outreach.

Steering committee members urged staff to consider whether the current schedule allows time to fill identified representation gaps. Staff said some engagement phases are complete to stay on schedule, but that subsequent phases will include targeted activities and a public review cycle: summary maps in February, a vision map and policy package to the public in April, a full draft to the public in June, and a targeted adoption window currently scheduled for August (which could move into September).

The steering committee asked staff to follow up with a plan listing short‑term outreach steps and to circulate workshop summaries, raw sticker boards and data so members and partner organizations can help design additional engagement.