The Secret Life of Pop-Ups: A Practical Guide To Elevate Your Community Engagement (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781923255999)

What does it take to create truly meaningful, impactful community engagement?

In this insightful and practical guide, Cindy Plowman takes readers behind the scenes of face-to-face engagement, sharing lessons from over a decade of experience in the field. From navigating the complexities of community consultation to designing creative pop-ups that draw people in, Cindy demonstrates how genuine connection can transform projects, policies, and communities.

Filled with real-world stories, this book captures the transformative power of in-person engagement-from the farmer vulnerably sharing his struggles with drought to the project manager finding their voice and connecting with their community. Cindy combines humour, humanity, and hard-won lessons to guide readers in building their own processes for community engagement, ensuring every project is rooted in trust, collaboration, and respect.

Packed with actionable strategies, this book offers more than just inspiration-it's a toolkit for anyone involved in community engagement. Learn how to:

• Plan and deliver creative pop-ups that draw in diverse audiences.
• Co-design engagement processes that reflect and respect community needs.
• Use insights and data to refine project management and communication strategies.
• Embrace innovative tools like AI to enhance efficiency and focus on meaningful outcomes.

Drawing from her experience leading Conversation Co., Cindy shares how she turned a simple caravan (originally intended as a cocktail van!) into a vibrant, mobile engagement space. From designing props that spark curiosity to creating systems that streamline processes, this book equips readers with the tools to approach engagement with confidence and creativity.

Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just starting out, this book offers the tools and inspiration to elevate your engagement practice. Discover how to design creative pop-ups that resonate with your audience and gain the confidence to turn meaningful conversations into measurable outcomes.

If there's one takeaway, it's this: meaningful engagement starts with a well-structured process, but it thrives on the human connections we build along the way.