Public engagement is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of successful urban development, yet its application in Latin America (LATAM) demands a context-specific approach. Across diverse cities and communities, questions of inclusion, trust, safety, and participation are deeply shaped by local and regional realities — and often complicated by legacies of social inequity and governmental distrust. To better understand how engagement processes can be improved in LATAM, our research used the region as a testing ground for new community engagement guidelines. Through interviews, regional case studies, and internal reflection, our multidisciplinary team explored how design professionals can adapt their roles and strategies to better serve communities throughout Latin America. We found that while global engagement principles offer useful starting points, successful outcomes in LATAM depend on culturally intelligent adjustments — ones that prioritize local partnerships, emotional intelligence, and flexible frameworks over universal templates. This research offers actionable insights and role-based strategies that support more inclusive, safe, and effective engagement in diverse LATAM contexts.