Your municipality has many faces. Let residents recognize the people behind it.
Give neighborhood teams and municipal departments a recognizable voice. Organize local communication with city channels, target groups, and clear working agreements.
Knowledge centre
Author: Jennick Scheerlinck
Jennick Scheerlinck is the founder and CEO of Hoplr. Drawing on his background as an industrial engineer specializing in software, he develops digital solutions that connect neighbors and support local authorities. He writes about neighborhood communication, civic participation, neighborly assistance, and the development of engaged local communities.
Latest articles
A neighborhood’s value begins with recognition
You see him around regularly: the man with the dog. From a nod to a conversation, discover how public familiarity can strengthen your sense of belonging and how Hoplr connects online…
From answers to insight: how municipalities use surveys on Hoplr
From a public vote in Mons to policy input in Terneuzen: discover how local surveys, careful analysis, and clear feedback reinforce one another.
How to reach residents who never attend a public meeting
Hard to reach—or reached differently? Five practical ways local governments can broaden participation through everyday neighborhood connections.
Public participation doesn’t have to be complicated: reach more residents without adding to your workload
Public participation rightly ranks high on every local government’s agenda. Today, residents expect more than just information: they want to be heard. Involving residents in policymaking often comes with significant challenges:…
Hoplr makes SROI visible: what does a neighborhood network really deliver?
“Social cohesion sounds great… but what does it actually bring in concrete terms?” That’s a fair question that local governments are asking more and more often. Budgets are limited, and impact…
3 simple actions to increase your reach on Hoplr
Active, vibrant neighborhoods don’t happen by accident. They grow when a local government builds in consistent attention and repetition—both offline and online. Today, local communication increasingly struggles with fragmented channels, low…
Hoplr updates: the main changes since October 2024
Key points of this article New activity calendar: Users can now easily discover local events within a 5 km radius, with filters for distance, category, period, or neighborhood – strengthening social…
Hoplr wins Global ESG Award: A win for sustainable community engagement
We are incredibly proud to announce that Hoplr has won the CommuniCare Impact Award at the Global ESG Awards 2025 in Cannes. ✨ This prestigious award, hosted by EUBIN – the…
Digital communication for social services: the role of neighborhood networks
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have long been used by municipalities and social service agencies to communicate with citizens. While they offer accessibility, concerns over privacy,…
From online connections to offline encounters in Weert and Nederweert
Punt Welzijn, a service-oriented welfare organization in Weert and Nederweert, works to improve livability in the neighborhoods and encourage residents to make the most of themselves. They focus on various target…
Successful launch of digital participation platform in Gemeente Terneuzen
At the beginning of April, the Municipality of Terneuzen launched their brand new online participation platform doemee.terneuzen.nl. Citizens can now participate in projects of the municipality. (e.g. changes in your street…
