Third Space Action Lab (TSAL) was created to disrupt the vicious cycle of disinvestment and displacement that exploit low-income communities of color. They have an exciting initiative called the People’s Practice that is defining characteristics and practices to build an anti-racist community development field. As part of this work, TSAL identified an opportunity to increase the use of participatory practices, particularly among community based development organizations (CBDOs), and partnered with Channel Change to develop a toolkit for community development practitioners on participatory engagement.

Project Phases

We are creating the toolkit across three phases with community development practioners engaged throughout. The goal is to create a resource that offers useful guidance and practical activities that allow professionals in the field to center community voices in decisions about development, programs, and services.

Invitation - Join the Feedback Group! 

Are you a community development professional looking to enhance participatory engagement
with the communities served by your organization?
If so, click here to apply for the Feedback Group!

A feedback group consists of individuals who test a product or service and provide recommendations for improvements. In this project, the feedback group will bring together community development practitioners who will evaluate version 1.0 of the toolkit, A Beginner's Guide to Participatory Engagement in Community Development. The group's feedback will be compiled, analyzed, and discussed by the group to identify refinements for version 2.0 of the toolkit. Additionally, group members will have opportunities for peer learning, allowing them to share their experiences and questions regarding participatory community engagement with one another.

Who: Practitioners involved in community development work are welcome to apply for the Feedback Group, which seeks between 10 and 40 participants. A comprehensive definition of the community development sector is available in the Third Space Action Lab publication, Towards an Anti-Racist Paradigm in Community Development: Core Characteristics of the Sector.

What: Participating in the group requires the completion of the following activities. You must confirm your availability for all required activities in the application. To receive compensation, participants must complete all activities.

• Attend a 30-minute Orientation on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. PT.

• Submit three Feedback Surveys by April 13, May 11, and June 15. Each feedback form will take less than 10 minutes to complete.

• Join three 1-hour Monthly Peer Meetings held on the last Friday of each month. The peer meeting dates are: 

  • April 24, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. PT 

  • May 29, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. PT

  • June 26, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. PT

• Submit a 5-minute Video Reflection by July 13. 

• Attend a 1-hour Group Close-Out on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT / 9 a.m. PT.

When: `The application is currently open. Early submissions are encouraged, as they will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the group is filled. The final deadline for submissions is Friday, March 6, at 11:59 p.m.

Why: Participants in the Feedback Group will receive a total of $500 each for completing all required activities. Along with financial compensation, participants will enhance their knowledge and skills to engage effectively with the communities they serve and contribute to the design and refinement of version 2.0 of the toolkit. They will also have opportunities for peer learning, allowing them to share experiences and questions related to participatory engagement with other professionals in community development.

FAQs: To learn more about the feedback group and application process, view the FAQs here. 

Questions? Email CDToolkit@letschannelchange.com. 

This project is part of the Third Space Action Lab People’s Practice, organized by Channel Change, and sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.