"Dahl's Ladder of Participation"

Dahl's Ladder of Participation is a framework that describes levels of involvement by community members in decision-making processes. It ranges from low participation, like simply being informed, to high participation, such as empowering residents to make decisions themselves. The ladder helps distinguish meaningful engagement from superficial involvement, emphasizing that genuine participation involves people actively contributing, collaborating, and sharing power. This model guides organizations in creating opportunities for community members to have real influence, fostering more inclusive and effective decision-making processes.