Join HKS’s Cities and Communities urban design and planning team for a conversation on shaping resilient, sustainable cities through meaningful community engagement. Drawing from personal journeys and real-world projects, this session explores how diverse participation fuels innovation and how the next generation of designers can contribute to thriving cities and neighborhoods. In planning and design, the community’s voice is foundational. The Cities and Communities team moves beyond traditional consultation to embrace a spectrum of engagement that supports genuine co-creation. While digital tools, hybrid work, and artificial intelligence continue to transform practice, human connection remains essential to effective communication and impactful design. This session highlights projects from across the country, including transit-oriented development plans in Atlanta, to demonstrate the value of deep, sustained community engagement. Through real-world examples and interactive activities, participants will explore how shifting along the engagement spectrum from informing to amplifying community voices can lead to more just, vibrant, and sustainable urban environments. Attendees will leave with practical insights into integrating community feedback into the design process, strengthening outcomes that reflect the needs, aspirations, and lived experiences of the communities they serve.