Understanding Stakeholders and the Issues They Care About

January 23, 2019

Understanding what local officials are trying to accomplish through stakeholder engagement is crucial to creating successful public planning and decision-making processes. Successful processes so often hinge on community involvement – on stakeholders having the opportunity to be heard in a meaningful way.

Equity: A Natural Next Step in City Evolution*

January 23, 2019

There are many reasons why cities can be effective leaders of efforts to promote economic mobility and other equity initiatives. Cities can frame appropriate responses because they are close to the problem.

Ranked Choice Voting: The New Norm Across the Bay Area

January 23, 2019

Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley and San Leandro, California were early adopters of what has now become a national movement for electoral reform. Ranked choice voting in the Bay Area has changed the political game, forcing voters and candidates to adopt to a new set of democratic rules and political strategies.

All-America City Awards- What’s Right with America

January 23, 2019

Currently in its 70th year, the focus of the All-America City Award in 2019 will be on communities that demonstrate inclusive decision-making processes to create better health for all, and particularly for populations currently experiencing poorer health outcomes.

Recruiting for Diversity and Inclusion in Local Police and Fire Departments

January 23, 2019

From youth camps to civil services reforms, what cities are doing to make careers in local public safety departments more appealing and accessible to young women and people of color.

Community-Based Equitable Development: Seattle’s Response to Gentrification

January 23, 2019

Seattle is an exceptional example of a city working to manage its growth with an equitable framework so that economic vitality can be enjoyed by all its residents. Adopting a strategy of civic engagement, the city has been able to encourage growth in economically struggling neighborhoods that includes the input and guidance of residents in every stage of the process.

We Need to Change How We Think About Gentrification

January 23, 2019

Gentrification is a hot political topic that is deeply emotional and personal to many, and when it happens, it happens very quickly. But the causes of gentrification are more complicated than may appear at first glance. Addressing this ever-present challenge will require policy-makers and members of the public to better understand its root causes.

Building and Measuring Civic Capital—the Capacity of a Community to Solve Problems and Thrive

January 23, 2019

Communities are more likely to thrive when residents, businesses, and other stakeholders play active roles in shaping decisions and taking action. The notion that “government cannot do it alone” was an important part of de Tocqueville’s message, and it is increasingly evident in times of limited resources.

The National Civic League Turns 125

January 23, 2019

Through its century and a quarter history, the organization has been at the center of innovative efforts to improve the civic life of America’s communities. What began as a nuts and bolts “good government” reform organization has evolved over time along with the changing nature of our communities and the challenges they face.

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