Who we are
Connect the Dots is an outreach and engagement consulting firm focused on connecting the public’s voice to decision-making. We build innovative, meaningful engagement and outreach methods to elevate public and stakeholder voices in participatory processes – and drive impact.
Through our creative and iterative approach, we incorporate education and intentionally-designed interactions to ensure these processes are accessible and representative. This work serves to build trust and lasting connections as the public informs their own future.
Origin Story:
Established in 2016
Marisa Denker founded Connect the Dots (CtD), with her co-founder, Naomi Murphy, in Ireland in 2016. CtD has grown from a small Fulbright project to a firm working internationally to bring individuals and organizations together to co-design the future of our cities.
Exploring a paradox in post-crash Dublin: underused vacant spaces, Marisa and Naomi realized that the various stakeholders (city officials, landlords, tenants, even squatters) were siloed and not collaborating. They developed a unique, data-driven methodology to build trust, gather insights, and co-design solutions for seemingly unfixable city challenges. Their success in bringing people to the table spread and demand for their innovative approach grew. The two soon left their jobs and took the leap to formalize Connect the Dots as a business.
Within a few years, CtD went from crowd-funded engagement efforts to working directly with Ireland’s Congress and National Transport Authority. Marisa brought CtD to Philadelphia in mid-2019 and quickly built partnerships with leading organizations such as Project for Public Spaces, collaborated with Comcast, the City of Philadelphia, and other large entities. The team has expanded quickly to meet the needs of planning processes across the East Coast, working from Maryland to Maine.
CtD’s mission is to build better cities and neighborhoods through representative, insight-driven stakeholder engagement. The CtD team helps local stakeholders, private and public sector partners to develop creative solutions that make cities more livable and vibrant. Through their unique engagement process, CtD is working to make sure all voices are heard in issues that matter most to changing cities- enabling new cycleways, pedestrianization efforts, recovery initiatives for key main streets, reimagined transportation, affordable housing, vision plans for major districts, long term comprehensive planning and more – all created with, for, and by the public.
Our guiding values
This isn’t your one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter engagement process.
We lead with values that guide our work.
Impact-Driven
We connect engagement interactions to key decision points so participants see their input reflected in the results.
Accessible
We create access to opportunities for input to ensure participant representation, with a special consideration for overlooked peoples.
People-first
We respect the public, focusing on building trust through accountability, authenticity, and reciprocity.
Creative
We design approachable, memorable interactions tailored for the local context so we can meet people where they are.
Transparent
We provide clear, accessible information, giving participants insight and involvement in the process itself and circling back to show outcomes.
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