Building Trust in Elections through Living Room Conversations

Promising Practices Webinar: Driving Economic Vitality Through Digital Engagement

Economic vitality serves as the lifeblood of cities and counties, fueling growth, job creation, and infrastructure development. Vibrant economic ecosystems not only enhance residents’ quality of life by providing diverse opportunities but also contribute to the overall resilience and sustainability of communities. Join us for a discussion with Midland County, MI to learn about their unique programs and how they’ve utilized data and digital engagement mechanisms to enhance them.

Building Trust in Elections through Living Room Conversations

This webinar equipped attendees with a valuable new Living Room Conversations tool for fostering trust in each other and elections. Co-hosted by the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation and the National Civic League.

What Do People Need to Feel Heard? Replacing Microphones with Deliberation

The webinar presented relevant research along with a range of practical innovations for replacing “3 minutes at the microphone” public commentary with deliberative discussion supported by digital engagement. The project team delved into what these democratic innovations could achieve, while two experts provided comments on the key practical and legal considerations.

Difficult Conversations for the Sake of Democracy: The Art of Disagreeing

In that webinar, we delved into the impactful work of the Bridging Movement Alignment Council and the Disagree Better Campaign, which are dedicated to fostering dialogue and bridging divides. Attendees discovered how these initiatives contribute to a more constructive and inclusive civic discourse and how they can get involved. Additionally, we showcased the inspiring efforts of two place-based bridging organizations, 92NY and Village Square.

Mapping America’s Healthy Democracy Ecosystem

Attendees learned about an ambitious effort to map the sprawling community of organizations, networks, and fields working to protect and enhance democracy in America.

Promising Practices Webinar- Beyond Registration: The Importance of Voter Education

Speakers discussed innovative voter education efforts, delving into the crucial role of informed and engaged citizens in a thriving democracy. Attendees discovered the tools and strategies that are shaping the future of voter education, from understanding complex ballot initiatives to filtering out partisan mis- and dis-information.

So You Want to be a 2024 All-America City?

National Civic League staff went over the 2024 All-America City Award theme, criteria, important dates, and possible areas of focus. Previous AAC winning communities shared their experiences with applying and competing for the award.

Promising Practices Webinar: Journalism’s Role in Strengthening Local Democracy

This webinar will provided an overview of the reflections offered in a new collection of essays published by the Kettering Foundation, Reinventing Journalism to Strengthen Democracy: Insights from Innovators. Additionally, attendees heard examples of how innovative sources of local news are playing an important role in covering civic affairs in a way that is not only positive, but also encourages civic engagement by local residents.

Youth Councils: Harnessing the Power of Engaged Youth

During this webinar, speakers discussed the traits that effective youth councils share and what cities are doing to make their youth councils an authentic part of the decision-making process.

Overcoming Challenges to Build Better Public Meetings

This is the first webinar we are hosting for the AAA-ICDR supported project called ‘Democracy Innovations for Better Public Meetings’. We’ll explore local challenges and opportunities from an elected official, public engagement, and legal perspective.

Promising Practices Webinar: Cities Fortifying Democracy

May 16, 2023
This webinar featured the German Marshall Fund’s Cities Fortifying Democracy project. Attendees learned about key topics leaders need to pay attention to at the local level to fortify democracy. Leaders from Fort Collins, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota did a deeper dive on three of the focus areas–equity and inclusion; youth disengagement and activation of next generations; and next-level engagement.

Promising Practices Webinar: Community Engagement Strategies for Reducing Vaccine Hesitancy

In this webinar, attendees heard about the COVID-19 Public Education Campaign, an initiative to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and reinforce basic prevention measures. Attendees also heard from the leaders of Multicultural Coalition Inc., a community organization that has implemented innovative and inclusive strategies for making vaccines more accessible and utilized.

Promising Practices Webinar: Can Racial Equity Commissions Heal Communities?

In this webinar, experienced mediators, facilitators, and consultants in the fields of diversity, equity, and inclusion discussed the concept, how-tos, goals, and benefits of racial equity commissions. Attendees also heard from two members of the Salt Lake City Racial Equity in Policing Commission.

Promising Practices Webinar: Tackling Tough Issues Through Citizen Panels

Lottery-selected panels, often called citizens’ juries or citizens’ assemblies, are democratic systems that help governments tackle difficult policy questions by putting a representative group of residents at the center of governance. In this webinar, Healthy Democracy will explain lottery-selected panels, discussing the benefits and potential applications. We’ll also hear about two case studies out of Petaluma, California and Eugene, Oregon.

Promising Practices Webinar: Fostering Youth-Driven Efforts to Build Community

In this webinar, attendees learned how youth leaders in Northeast Wisconsin are creating inclusive and intergenerational spaces and programs that foster community and belonging. Additionally, Kinect M1 shared its approach to building communities of the future by removing barriers and embracing youth voices to ensure all have the opportunity to contribute and thrive. 

Promising Practices Webinar: Embedding Engagement in Climate Policy

This webinar featured a new report making the case for ambitious climate policy that builds upon the best models of engagement and collaboration.

Promising Practices Webinar: Creating a Civic Learning Environment

In this webinar, we will hear from a group of elementary teachers who are committed to teaching the skills of deliberative democracy to their young students. Speakers will discuss the five important skills and dispositions necessary for creating a learning environment oriented for deliberative citizenship, and how they are incorporating these concepts into their classrooms.

Promising Practices Webinar: So you want to be a 2023 All-America City?

National Civic League staff went over the 2023 All-America City Award theme, criteria, important dates, and possible areas of focus. Previous AAC winning communities shared their experiences with applying and competing for the award.

Promising Practices Webinar: Creating Social Connectedness in Rural America

Socially connected communities are essential to both individual well-being and a community’s collective capacity to thrive. In this webinar panelists discussed the importance of social connection, as well as the logistical and cultural challenges to creating this sense of belonging, particularly in rural settings.

Promising Practices Webinar: The ABCs of Inclusive and Equitable Engagement

During this webinar we will discuss the myriad of considerations–convener, time, location, language, etc.–that need to be addressed to ensure engagement efforts are inclusive and equitable. Registrants will also learn about strategies and best practices for equitable and inclusive engagement, with a few examples from communities successfully doing this work.

Promising Practices Webinar: Elevating Libraries as Civic Spaces

During this webinar, attendees learned about the American Library Association’s initiative, “Libraries Transforming Communities,” which has provided libraries opportunities to learn the skills of facilitating community conversations with help from the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation. We then heard about North Liberty Library’s community conversation series, Lighthouse in the Library.

Promising Practices Webinar: Community Solutions for Addressing Disparities in Mental Healthcare Access

During this webinar, participants joined mental health advocates and community leaders to learn how communities are partnering with key stakeholders to address the remaining disparities in mental healthcare access, including how non-healthcare-focused initiatives can make mental healthcare more accessible for all.

Promising Practices Webinar: Reflecting Racial Equity in City Policies

During this webinar, speakers provided a historical overview of discriminatory laws and policies and shared ways communities can evaluate and amend policies to include principles of equity, access, and inclusion.

Promising Practices Webinar: Infusing Community Engagement and Equity into Your Charter

During this webinar, attendees will hear from participants from the National Civic League’s Model City Charter revision process who will outline how cities might improve their treatment of equity and civic engagement. Lastly, we will hear about a city manager’s experience with incorporating equity into the city’s charter, mission and vision, and programs and policies.

Promising Practices Webinar: Countering Ageism and Creating Age-Friendly Communities

Ageism and the social isolation of older adults has been on the rise. Attendees learned how cities and communities can adopt more age-friendly programs, practices and policies.

So you want to be a 2022 All-America City?

Attendees learned about the 2022 All-America City Award Program- Housing as a Platform: Promoting Early School Success and Equitable Learning Recovery.

Promising Practices Webinar: Moving Beyond Welcoming to Community Belonging

The National Civic League was joined by the Belonging Initiative and The City of Grand Rapids to discuss the differences between welcoming and belonging and present two new tools to help communities include people fully. 

Promising Practices Webinar: Youth and Participatory Budgeting

Panelists from Ethelo and Keystone Policy Center discussed techniques for, and examples of, bringing youth voices to the budgeting table.

Promising Practices Webinar: Embracing Youth Leadership and Activism

The League was joined by the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District and the Campus Election Engagement Project for a webinar featuring youth making positive change.

Promising Practices Webinar: Bridging Differences to Thrive Together

Attendees explored how we can use dialogue to bridge divides & build civic muscle.

Promising Practices Webinar: Improving Equity and Resilience by Reducing Social Isolation

Presenters discussed recommendations to address the growing problem of social isolation.

Promising Practices Webinar: Integrating Immigrants into Civic Life

This webinar featured Welcoming America and two communities empowering immigrant leaders. Attendees learned about the innovative ways nonprofits, city and county governments are including and welcoming immigrants in all areas of civic, social, and economic life.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Using Census Bureau Data to Facilitate Resiliency and Economic Recovery

Participants learned how communities can use Census Bureau data to help local businesses, strengthen grant applications, and estimate resiliency in response to challenges like COVID-19 and natural disasters.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: A Discussion with Nextdoor.com

Join the National Civic League for a webinar about Nextdoor, the neighborhood app for trusted connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods, and services.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Bridging Divides through Community Dialogue

NCDD, Essential Partners and former mayor Hollie Cost shared practical steps and resources for addressing our divisions and healing our communities through dialogue.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Engaging the Public to Create an Equitable Budget

This webinar focused on the need to engage the community in the budgeting process to ensure that any necessary cuts are both equitable and in-line with resident priorities. Participants heard from Shayne Kavanagh, Senior Manager of Research , GFOA; Chris Adams, President, Balancing Act; and Tiffany Waddell Blackwell, Senior Strategy & Budget Analyst, City of Charlotte, NC.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: So you want to be an All-America City?

Previous winning communities and our jury foreperson, Angela Romans, presented on the All-America City journey with tips for applying, the types of projects submitted and an update on the benefits of winning the award.

Building a Culture of Healthy and Engaged Youth Leaders

This webinar featured two 2020 All-America Cities that are empowering and embracing youth leaders in their community. Attendees heard about Rancho Cucamonga, California’s Healthy RC Youth Leaders program and Danville, Virginia’s Youth Health Equity Leadership Institute (YHELI).

Valerie Lemmie Management Matters Podcast Interview

Valerie Lemmie, Former City Manager, Current Director of Exploratory Research at the Kettering Foundation, and Chair of the National Civic League’s Board of Directors, talks about her career and thoughts on democratic decision-making during this Management Matters Podcast hosted by the National Academy of Public Administration. 

Promoting Equity in Education through Community Partnerships

Attendees heard about Rochester, New York’s Community Task Force on School Climate and Muncie, Indiana’s Whitely Neighborhood and Schools Within the Context of Communities program. Presenters were Eva M. Zygmuntm, Professor of Early Childhood, Youth, and Family Studies at Ball State University; and Rosemary Rivera, Co-Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York and The Public Policy & Education Fund.

Community Solutions to School Readiness in the Time of COVID-19

The National Civic League and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading co-hosted a webinar featuring three innovative communities that are combating the compounded challenges of early school success in the time of Coronavirus. Panelists focused on what’s working to strengthen school readiness and mitigate learning loss.

Promising Practices Webinar: Addressing Historic Inequities through Police Reform

Participants learned about recent reforms police departments have been implementing to improve public safety and build trust.

Promising Practices Webinar: Lead by Stepping Back, Empowering Community Assets

During this webinar attendees heard from John McKnight one of the co-founders of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute and Dan Duncan, the current board president of the ABCD Institute and a long-time faculty member. They discussed the principles and tools of ABCD and provided real-life examples of residents who have taken on new responsibilities and functions and how they have developed new ways to join local governments as co-producers.

Promising Practices Webinar: Social Distancing Meets Public Engagement

This webinar featured Wendy Willis, Executive Director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium, and Larry Schooler, Director of Consensus Building and Community Engagement, CD&P. The two civic engagement experts showcased strategies for virtual public engagement in this time of social isolation.

Promising Practices Webinar: Taking Climate Actions at the Local Level

Participants heard from two cities that are taking on the issue of sustainability with resident-driven initiatives. The Sustainability Division in Lakewood, CO discussed its sustainability plan, as well as the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program. The Office of Sustainability in Chula Vista, CA discussed its Climate Action Challenge.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Community Collaborations to Address Mental Health

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This webinar will highlighted two community programs that are addressing mental health issues through collaborations and unique partnerships.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Do you want to be an All-America City?

Previous winning communities and our longtime lead volunteer presented on their All-America City journey with tips for applying, the types of projects they submitted and an update on the benefits they have seen from winning the award.

Interview: 50th Anniversary of the Kerner Commission Report

Mike McGrath Program Director of Research and Publications at the National Civic League interviews Dr. Alan Curtis, President and CEO of the Eisenhower Foundation. The two discuss the 50 year anniversary of the Kerner Commission on race relations, which issued a report that concluded that American was heading toward “two societies, black and white, separate and unequal.”

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Engaging your Community Outside of City Hall

Three communities shared how they are engaging residents where they live, using unique and entertaining approaches. Highlighted community events included: Denver Days, Porchfest and National Night Out.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Leadership Academies – Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary

Hear how the leadership academies of the City of Wichita, KS and the City of El Paso, TX evolved to offer a more innovative and advanced civic learning experience.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Creating a Culture of Engagement – Tools and Practical Examples

This webinar gave participants tools and practical examples for creating a culture of engagement in their communities. Doug gave an overview of the National Civic League’s tool, the Civic Index, and Cori Burbach and Paul Duster discussed examples of how Dubuque has engaged its community over a prolonged period of time.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Improving Health and Fitness through Inclusive Community Challenges

Two 2019 All-America Cities speak about local programs and health challenges aimed at addressing obesity, diabetes and general well-being.

Anniversary Interview with Honorable Henry Cisneros

AUGUST 27, 2019
In honor of the National Civic League’s 125th Anniversary, we are interviewing descendants of some of the League’s founders and important figures from our history.

National Civic League’s board secretary, Angela Romans, interviews Honorable Henry Cisneros, Principal & Chairman of the Executive Committee of Siebert Cisneros Shank.

Mr. Cisneros is also the former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, former Mayor of San Antonio and a former board chair of the National Civic League.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Youth Engagement, Embracing the Power of Youth Voice

Attendees heard from this year’s John Parr Youth Award winners and learn about the youth engagement work happening at the Mikva Challenge.

Anniversary Interview with David Mathews

In honor of the National Civic League’s 125th Anniversary, we are interviewing descendants of some of the League’s founders and important figures from our history. National Civic League’s board member, Angela Romans, interviews David Mathews, President & CEO of the Kettering Foundation.

Anniversary Interview with Rick Raushenbush

In honor of the National Civic League’s 125th Anniversary, we are interviewing descendants of some of the League’s founders and important figures from our history. National Civic League’s board member, Angela Romans, interviews Richard W. Raushenbush, great grandson of one of our founders, Justice Louis Brandeis.

What Would Teddy Do? By David Mathews

David Mathews, President of the Kettering Foundation, was a keynote speaker at the 2019 All-America City Awards and Event. His remarks centered around one of the National Civic League’s Co-Founders, Theodore Roosevelt. Mathews posited that Theodore Roosevelt would immediately cancel the All-America City Awards. Mathews quipped that Teddy would replace the award with the All-America Failure Awards, given to cities that know how to fail successfully.

Alicia Lara’s All-America City Keynote Speech

Alicia Lara, United Way’s Senior Vice President of Impact, stresses the importance of putting those you serve at the center of your work in her Keynote Speech at the 2019 All-America City Awards and Event.

La June Montgomery Tabron’s All-America City Keynote Speech

La June Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, was a keynote speaker at the 2019 All-America City Awards. In her remarks, she explained Kellogg’s approach to civic engagement, which includes: cooperative planning, intelligent study and group action.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Equitable and Collaborative Economic Development

Learn about two communities that are being mindful about collaboration and equity in their economic development projects.

Ubax Gardheere, Equity Strategies Manager at the City of Seattle’s Office of Planning & Community Development spoke about Seattle’s approach to equitable development.

Kevin Mitchell, Town Engineer in the Town of Mount Pleasant’s Planning and Engineering Department talked about the town’s collaborative Shem Creek Revitalization project which ensured that the waterfront was accessible to all residents.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Community Approaches to Inclusive Healthy Housing

The National Civic League was joined by organizations bringing healthy housing to their communities. Suzanne Mineck, President of the Mid Iowa Health Foundation and Emily Yu, Executive Director of BUILD Health Challenge spoke about Healthy Homes Des Moines and the BUILD Health Challenge. Leroy Moore, Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the Tampa Housing Authority spoke about Encore TAMPA.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Community Collaborations to Improve Student Health

During this All-America Cities Promising Practices webinar, Susan Witkowski, CHCQM, CEO of Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County discussed the offerings of their school-based health center. and Lisa Campbell, CEO of Create a Change in Las Vegas, NV discussed their Healthy School, Healthy Life Program.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Leveraging Education to Achieve Equity and Improve Futures

Two All-America Cities spoke about how they are utilizing education programs to achieve equity and improve economic and community futures.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Addressing Addiction on a Community-Wide Level

Two communities discussed their local intervention programs to address drug and/or alcohol abuse. Beaverton, OR spoke about their B-SOBR program and Hamilton County, OH gave an overview of their Hamilton County Heroin Coalition.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Community-Wide Visioning with an Equity Lens

Learn more about how two All-America Cities underwent a community-wide visioning process with a specific focus on engagement and equity. Decatur, GA discusses their visioning process, “Better Together.” San Antonio, TX discusses their process, SA2020.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Supporting Community Mental Health

The National Civic League was joined by Longmont, CO and Stockton, CA to share how they support mental health in their communities.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: So you want to be an All-America City?

2018 All-America City winners, Kershaw County, SC and Las Vegas, NC, presented on their All-America City journey with tips for applying, the types of projects they submitted and an update on the benefits they have seen from winning the award.

AAC Promising Practices Webinar: Stable, Affordable, Equitable Housing

Learn how the Sankofa Initiative became a multi-pronged approach, responding to housing, public safety, community environment, income, quality of life and pride in their community. The presenters tackled root causes of health inequalities to achieve health equity for members of the community.

Public Libraries Lending Social Work Resources to Vulnerable People

Public libraries see some of the community’s most pressing problems up close. In this webinar, learn how libraries have leveraged community partnerships, trained staff, developed programs and even engaged customers.

Keynote Address: Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis

Vice President of Government, External Relations and Research for Kaiser Permanente Colorado, spoke at the 2018 National Civic League Conference on building healthy, equitable communities.

Keynote Address: Supervisor Hilda L. Solis

Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Supervisor who also served as US Secretary of Labor and as a Member of Congress offered a keynote address during the 2018 National Civic League Conference.

Keynote Address: Honorable Fred Harris

Last remaining member of the Kerner Commission, Honorable Fred Harris, speaks at National Civic League’s 2018 Conference. 2018 was the 50th anniversary of the Report of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (more commonly known as the Kerner Commission).

Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Efforts in Local Government

Presenters Nolan Atkinson, chief diversity officer in Philadelphia, and Darlene Flynn, director of Oakland’s Department of Race and Equity, discuss how they tackle diversity and inclusion and racial equity in local governments, pioneering the work in their respective cities.

Building Community Trust Using Police Data and Dashboards

In this webinar, attorney Bob Scales and San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia discussed the challenges of collecting use of force data and successes from sharing data with the community. Both addressed how data can be used to engage and the community as well as how city leaders have used data for risk management and budget allocations.

Community Dialogues with On the Table

The Chicago Community Trust’s annual region-wide civic engagement initiative On the Table has provided an annual forum for tens of thousands of Chicagoans to engage in meaningful conversation, develop new relationships and inspire action to make a difference in communities.

Infusing Engagement in City Planning and Visioning

In this webinar, National Civic League Fellow, Larry Schooler, will discuss two engagement projects he managed, Imagine Austin and Our Vision Fort Lauderdale.

Infusing Equity in City Government – How and Where

Equity is becoming an important part in government operations and services, but how and where can a city government begin? In this webinar, National Civic League fellow Dante James will share a list of examples for how to begin to infuse equity throughout city government.

2018 All-America City Application Tips

Learn more about the application guidelines and criteria for the 2018 All-America City Award. Somerville, Massachusetts’ Deputy Communications Director, Jackie Rossetti, joined to provide insight and tips from a previous winner.

Building Equity in Parks and Recreation

In this webinar, participants will learn how parks and recreation systems can be transformed by using an equity lens. In Minnesota, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has used equity to decide how resources and improvements are made.

The Power of Libraries to Foster Inclusive Civic Engagement

In communities of every size, public libraries provide leadership, information, tools, and a place where people connect to fulfill the roles and responsibilities of active civic engagement. Presenters include Chris Becker, Senior Consultant for the Urban Libraries Council and Sheila Umberger, Director of Libraries for Roanoke, Virginia

Racial Equity and Healing

The Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) enterprise of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation is a comprehensive, national and community-based process to plan for and bring about transformational and sustainable change in our society, and to address the historic and contemporary effects of racism.

So You Want to be an All-America City?

Learn more about the 2018 All-America City Award Program – Promoting Equity Through Inclusive Civic Engagement. Previous winning communities presented on their All-America City journey with tips for applying, the types of projects they submitted and an update on the benefits they have seen from winning the award.

Educational Equity

Learn from 2017 All-America City Winners, Stockton-San Joaquin Valley, CA and Dayton, OH, about educational equity strategies for community-based work to help more children from low-income families achieve grade-level reading proficiency and early school success.

Health Equity and the Role of Civic Engagement

Understanding what matters when it comes to health equity and American communities.

Fair and Affordable Housing Strategies

Presentations from Cashauna Hill, Executive Director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center and Phil Eide, Senior Vice President, Community and Economic Development at Hope Enterprise Corporation

Creating Spaces for Youth-led Initiatives

Presenters: Deirdre Love, Teens With a Purpose, Norfolk, Virginia and Alejandra Silva, Youth Equity Coordinator, Building Health Communities Salinas, California

How Cities Can Foster Positive Relationships Between Youth and Police

Building relationships between young people and police can bring positive results for your city.

Inclusive Civic Engagement Practices

Learn from Seattle, Washington; Dubuque, Iowa; and Lakewood, Colorado on their strategies for inclusive civic engagement and how you can adapt them for your community. 

Community Policing

Learn from All-America City winner Columbia Heights, Minnesota and from Sean Smoot, a 21st Century Policing Consultant, on community policing strategies.