{"id":3495,"date":"2026-03-24T11:26:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/water.phila.gov\/blog\/?p=3495"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:42:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:42:49","slug":"wrp-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/water.phila.gov\/blog\/wrp-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Revitalizing our water with the help of our community"},"content":{"rendered":"

How do we prepare for and complete a Water Revitalization Plan project? With your help! Community engagement is a part of every step of the process.<\/p>\n

The Water Revitalization Plan (WRP) includes dozens of projects, large and small, carefully planned over the coming decades. We\u2019re sharing a peek at the process, from start to finish, and how we\u2019ll keep our communities informed every step of the way.<\/p>\n

How can you play a part?<\/h2>\n

Philadelphia is a diverse city. Its residents bring a wide variety of strengths and skills, and many help us share the story around the importance of big water infrastructure projects. Whether serving on our Stakeholder Advisory Group<\/a> or supporting more informally, here are some of the roles our community has filled so far:<\/p>\n

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The Curator<\/h3>\n

Curators help us tell our story effectively with their community. They sort through content and make sure the important topics and messages rise to the top.<\/p>\n

Skills: Storytelling, organization, historical knowledge<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Listener<\/h3>\n

Listeners have a sense of what is important to their groups. They show up to meetings and events with a collaborative mindset. Often found at community events, plugged into the local news, or watching their community’s social channels.<\/p>\n

Skills: Navigating community concerns<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Bridge Builder<\/h3>\n

Bridge Builders bring people in their community together around common values and inspire connection between different groups. They show up to meetings and events with a collaborative mindset.<\/p>\n

Skills: Collaboration, empathy, openness<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Creative<\/h3>\n

Creatives bring new ideas to the table, helping us refine our messages, materials, and outreach tactics in creative and engaging ways.<\/p>\n

Skills: Perspective, ingenuity<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Advocate<\/h3>\n

Community members look to Advocates for reliable information and to represent them on critical issues.<\/p>\n

Skills: Credibility, trust, persistence<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Vocal Local<\/h3>\n

Vocal Locals are in the community talking to folks and have a sense of the events and activities going on. They know who to talk to and how to reach different audiences and enjoy sharing updates and news.<\/p>\n

Skills: Community network, sharing ideas<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Quiet Collaborator<\/h3>\n

Quiet Collaborators prefer to listen versus being the loudest ones in the room. They may engage folks via social media or impactful small group discussions.<\/p>\n

Skills: Encouraging others to open up<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Community input: vital at every phase<\/h2>\n

As we go through the steps of planning and building a WRP project, community members that fulfill each of these roles are vital to our engagement strategy. Every role is useful in each project phase, and we\u2019ve listed some examples of how each and every community member can get involved.<\/p>\n

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Planning<\/h3>\n

Planning is one of the most important steps in any WRP project, and it can take anywhere from one to several years to complete. During this phase, we study the problem and explore different way to address it. We develop and compare options based on:<\/p>\n