Boulder residents are invited to attend a public workshop on Tuesday, July 15 to learn strategies for navigating complex conversations and to share their perspectives on the city’s long-term planning priorities.
The event, “Building Our Voices to Shape Boulder’s Future,” will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fairview High School. It is part of the City of Boulder’s broader public engagement process for updating the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP), which guides decisions on land use, housing, transportation, climate resilience, and neighborhood development throughout Boulder and Boulder County.
The city is hosting the workshop in partnership with YOUnify, a nonprofit that helps communities build constructive dialogue across political and cultural divides. According to YOUnify, facilitators Brandyn Keating and Pedro Senhorinha Silva will lead participants through the BRAVE conversation model, which emphasizes listening, clarity, and common ground. Attendees will have the chance to apply the model to real-world topics such as housing affordability and sustainable growth.
The event is free and open to the public. No prior experience with planning or government is required. Spanish interpretation will be available, and a light meal will be provided.
Insights gathered during the workshop will be shared with a resident-led community assembly, which is advising the city on the concept of “15-minute neighborhoods.” The model focuses on designing communities where residents can access daily services, such as grocery stores, schools, and parks, within a short walk or bike ride. According to city staff, the community assembly is part of the BVCP engagement process and was created to bring together a diverse group of residents to help shape Boulder’s vision for more connected and accessible neighborhoods.
The BVCP was last updated in 2015. The current update began in late 2024 and has included surveys, open houses, and community roundtables. According to the City of Boulder, more than 2,500 public comments have been submitted so far. Common themes include the need for more affordable housing, stronger climate strategies, and more inclusive public engagement.
Two follow-up events are part of the BVCP update. The first, “From Vision to Action: Community Member-Hosted Conversations,” begins with a virtual session on Tuesday, August 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants will receive guidance on hosting small group discussions about Boulder’s future and later share their group’s feedback in a live community session.
The second event, “From Vision to Action: Plotting the Course for Boulder’s Future,” is an in-person workshop scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Casey Middle School. Attendees will review and provide feedback on draft ideas shaped by earlier community input, covering topics such as housing, climate, transportation, and food systems.
All attendees are encouraged to RSVP on YOUnify’s website. Additional information about the workshop series is also available online.
