The New NIMBY: Navigating Community Affairs in the Age of Opposition

by Marissa Bruette

Jan 29, 2026 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Slice University for a timely webinar on "The New NIMBY"—an essential deep dive for professionals in development, planning, public affairs, and community engagement. The "Not In My Backyard" phenomenon has evolved. Today's opposition to building, transportation, and infrastructure projects is often more sophisticated, coordinated, and influential than ever before, creating significant hurdles for critical community improvements. This webinar moves beyond the typical NIMBY rhetoric to explore the root causes and modern manifestations of this resistance. Learn how to anticipate, address, and collaborate with community stakeholders to move essential projects from concept to completion. Key Takeaways: What You Will Learn Understanding the Modern Opposition: Explore how the traditional NIMBY movement has morphed, encompassing issues of equity, environmental justice, affordability, and the preservation of neighborhood character. The "New" Engagement Playbook: Discover cutting-edge strategies for effective, authentic community engagement that builds trust and consensus before a project reaches a crisis point. De-risking Development: Identify common communication pitfalls and learn practical techniques to counter misinformation, manage stakeholder expectations, and minimize legal or political challenges. Case Studies in Community Success: Review real-world examples of building, infrastructure, and transit projects that successfully navigated intense opposition to deliver public benefit.