Digital Community Engagement

New technologies are reshaping how communities participate in decisions about the built environment, creating new opportunities to broaden who is engaged, how people contribute, and how public input informs planning and design.

With the launch of Mayor Mamdani's Office of Mass Engagement, New York City is investing in new approaches to civic participation and exploring how technology can support more inclusive, accessible, and responsive engagement at scale.

This conversation will bring together leaders in civic technology, community engagement, and the built environment to explore the tools, platforms, and methodologies transforming public participation. From digital engagement platforms and participatory technologies to new approaches for collecting, interpreting, and acting on community feedback, panelists will examine how technology can strengthen the connection between communities and the decisions that shape their environments.

The discussion will consider the opportunities and challenges of technology-enabled civic participation, and what emerging models of mass engagement mean for architects, planners, policymakers, and the communities they serve.

Hear from the Innovators Ready for the OME:
Dana Chermesh, Founder & CEO, inCitu: Democratizing city planning by bringing urban development to life through spatial data and Augmented Reality (AR), allowing residents to literally see the future of their neighborhoods.
Maggie Hughes, Founder, Convoca: Innovating at the intersection of civic tech and community organizing to mobilize the public and break down traditional barriers to local agency.
Neysa Pranger, Founder & CEO, Urban Sense: Using technology and urban data to better understand how people experience and engage with cities, creating new
Melissa Marsh, Founder & Executive Director, PLASTARC: Leveraging social science and data-driven spatial strategy to design environments that foster human connection and participatory experiences.

About the Speakers:
Dana Chermesh is an architect and urban data scientist who founded inCitu to democratize city planning through augmented reality. A graduate of NYU’s Center for Urban Science + Progress and former Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Schmidt Futures, she has also worked with the NYC Department of City Planning. Her work explores how immersive technology can make urban change more visible, accessible, and participatory.

Maggie Hughes is a civic technologist, community organizer, and co-founder of Convoca, where she develops technology that strengthens civic relationships and community participation. She holds a PhD from the MIT Media Lab and has worked with city planners, grassroots organizations, and researchers to develop tools that translate community voices into meaningful civic action.

Melissa Marsh combines quantitative and qualitative social science research with architectural expertise to shift workplace metrics from “square feet and inches” to occupant satisfaction and performance. Through PLASTARC, she advances evidence-based interventions that make the built environment more people-centric and responsive, supporting both individual wellness and business success.

Neysa Pranger is a management consultant and urban strategist specializing in the intersection of cities, technology, and public services. As Co-Founder and Principal of UrbanSense, she advises public agencies, developers, and civic organizations on using technology, organizational strategy, and human-centered design to improve urban experiences. Her background spans transportation, economic development, public-sector innovation, and urban planning.