This page includes webinars, interviews and speeches covering promising practices around the country. The free monthly Promising Practices Webinar series highlights successful projects around the country with speakers from cities implementing creative strategies for civic engagement. These webinars are free and open to anyone who is interested in creating stronger communities. The National Civic League's interview series includes conversations with elected officials, civic engagement experts, figures important to our history and others. Recorded speeches allow you to re-live the keynote addresses of past All-America City awards events and conferences.
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.
WatchNCDD, Essential Partners and former mayor Hollie Cost shared practical steps and resources for addressing our divisions and healing our communities through dialogue.
WatchThis 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.
WatchPrevious 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.
WatchThis 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).
WatchValerie 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.
WatchAttendees 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.
WatchDialogue strengthens our sense of belonging and connection by building relationships. When we listen, share, and discover, we are able to create meaning together—and are better positioned to take action in our communities.
This interactive session will:
1. Introduce dialogue as a change strategy;
2. Share dialogue guides that can be adapted for your community;
3. Give attendees a chance to practice dialogue together.
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.
WatchParticipants learned about recent reforms police departments have been implementing to improve public safety and build trust.
WatchDuring 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.
WatchThis 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.
WatchParticipants 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.
Watch“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.
WatchPrevious 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.
WatchMike 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.”
WatchThree 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.
WatchHear 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.
WatchThis 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.
WatchTwo 2019 All-America Cities speak about local programs and health challenges aimed at addressing obesity, diabetes and general well-being.
WatchAUGUST 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.
WatchAttendees heard from this year’s John Parr Youth Award winners and learn about the youth engagement work happening at the Mikva Challenge.
WatchIn 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.
WatchLa 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.
WatchAlicia 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.
WatchDavid 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.
WatchIn 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.
WatchLearn 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.
WatchThe 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.
WatchDuring 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.
WatchTwo All-America Cities spoke about how they are utilizing education programs to achieve equity and improve economic and community futures.
WatchTwo 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.
WatchCan the public really help local governments make solid budget decisions? Of course! Two communities – Hampton, Virginia, and Placentia, California – will share how residents have contributed their views on budget matters. In Hampton, City Manager Mary Bunting will discuss the I-Value effort in Hampton. In Placentia, Rosanna Ramirez, the city’s director of administrative services, will talk about the city’s Citizens Fiscal Sustainability Task Force.
Join the National Civic League for this free webinar on Wednesday, December 19th at 11:30 am PST/12:30 pm MST/1:30 pm CST/2:30 pm EST
RegisterLearn 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.
WatchThe National Civic League was joined by Longmont, CO and Stockton, CA to share how they support mental health in their communities.
Watch2018 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.
WatchLearn 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.
WatchPublic 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.
WatchVice President of Government, External Relations and Research for Kaiser Permanente Colorado, spoke at the 2018 National Civic League Conference on building healthy, equitable communities.
WatchHilda 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.
WatchLast 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).
WatchPresenters 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.
WatchIn 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.
WatchThe 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.
WatchIn this webinar, National Civic League Fellow, Larry Schooler, will discuss two engagement projects he managed, Imagine Austin and Our Vision Fort Lauderdale.
WatchEquity 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.
WatchLearn 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.
WatchIn 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.
WatchIn 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
WatchThe 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.
WatchLearn 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.
WatchLearn 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.
WatchUnderstanding what matters when it comes to health equity and American communities.
WatchPresentations 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
WatchPresenters: Deirdre Love, Teens With a Purpose, Norfolk, Virginia and Alejandra Silva, Youth Equity Coordinator, Building Health Communities Salinas, California
WatchBuilding relationships between young people and police can bring positive results for your city.
WatchLearn from Seattle, Washington; Dubuque, Iowa; and Lakewood, Colorado on their strategies for inclusive civic engagement and how you can adapt them for your community.
WatchLearn from All-America City winner Columbia Heights, Minnesota and from Sean Smoot, a 21st Century Policing Consultant, on community policing strategies.
Watch