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I Have to Ask: Getting Emotional About City Communications

ELGL Co-Founder Kent Wyatt poses a question and a guest columnist answers it. This week, Jason Jones, Assistant Director, Budget Management & Evaluation, Guilford County, NC, writes how we can understand how people feel when they read city communications. Maybe if I tried really hard I could dazzle you with quotes about how important the...

Introducing: Social Justice -> Local Government

This guest blog is by ELGL member Matt Hirschinger, the Assistant to the Town Manager in Hudson, Colorado. Read Matt's writing about criticizing other cultures professionally, understanding privilege, understanding identity, and impressing in meetings. Read all of Matt’s other articles at the Social Justice –> Government homepage. My name is Matt Hirschinger, and I had the opportunity...

Podcast: Enhancing Public Services with the Google.org Fellowship

Erin Hattersley Manager, Google.org Google LinkedIn | Twitter Maegen Fisher Program Manager Fellow Google.org LinkedIn Improving access to city programs online. Erin Hattersley, Manager at Google.org, and Maegen Fisher, Program Manager Fellow, joined the podcast to talk about how Google is partnering with the City of Boulder, Colorado and the goals of the Fellowship Program....

A Call For Equitable Economic Development

Today’s Morning Buzz is by Rafael Baptista. Connect with Rafael on LinkedIn and Twitter. What I’m Reading: The Big Fix: The Hunt for the Match-Fixers Bringing Down Soccer by Brett Forest What I’m Watching: The Americans on Amazon Prime When most people picture economic development, they think of smooth-talking economic developers convincing companies to bring their jobs and...

Your 2020 “Heck Yes” Challenge

Today’s Morning Buzz is by Jessica Hoffman. Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn. What I’m Reading: Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean by Kim Scott What I’m Watching: Criminal Minds and The Office reruns This time of year you are likely working on your new year’s goals. You are...

Quarter-by-Quarter Work Plan for ELGL in 2020

Today's Morning Buzz is by ELGL Executive Director Kirsten Wyatt. Connect with Kirsten on LinkedIn and Twitter! What I'm Reading: Tidelands by Phillipa Gregory What I'm Watching: You on Netflix What I'm Listening To: Gary Clark Jr. Essentials What I'm Obsessed With: #ELGL20 registration opens today! Last year, ELGL adopted its strategic plan, and in...

I Have to Ask: Budget Groupies

ELGL Co-founder Kent Wyatt poses a question and a guest columnist answers it. This week, Megan Erwin, City of Norfolk, Virginia, Senior Budget and Policy Analyst, shares ideas for cultivating budget groupies. What has been your biggest challenge in engaging the public about the budget? How did you address it? “These events are awesome, see...

#ELGL20

#ELGL20 is the Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) annual conference. ELGL's vision is to amplify the good in local government. ELGL's mission is to engage the brightest minds in local government. #ELGL20 is our once-a-year opportunity to connect with each other and learn more about local government topics. #ELGL20 is October 12-16, 2020 and will be hosted virtually....

Aligning Actions with Purpose

When you work in a city, you know all about purpose, right? After all, there’s a purpose statement in every ordinance, every plan, every department. They are part of our budget books, our preambles, and the parts that rarely get read. Over decades, cities adopt plans and codes under the most honorable of intentions. Then,...

Future-Proofing Cities

This is the new monthly blog series by AJ Fawver, Community Consulting Program leader for VERDUNITY and based out of Lubbock, Texas. She shares her take on planning for communities and securing their future in a time where legislation, fiscal pressures, disengaged citizens, and diminishing resources make it increasingly challenging. Meet AJ AJ Fawver currently...

Don't Be An Impostor!

Today's post is another frantic yowling from Zach Ratkai, Administrative and Community Services Director for the City of Pasco, Washington... connect on Twitter and LinkedIn What I am Reading: Way too many forum posts and blog articles on the general configuration, towing, and hauling capabilities of a Ford F-150. What I am Listening To: Chris Stapleton What I...

National Day of Supper Clubbing is March 5, 2020!

Please sign up to host a Supper Club on March 5, 2020. It's the National Day of Supper Clubbing, #NDOSC, a chance for local government leaders from around the country to meet up with people in their region for an evening of fellowship and conversation. Sign up to host! What's a Supper Club? Supper Clubs...

I Have to Ask: Teaching is in My Bones

In this series, guest columnists respond to one of three questions posed by ELGL Co-Founder Kent Wyatt. This week, Cassie Johnson, Senior Police Analyst, City of Scottsdale, Arizona, reflects on the impact of teaching. Teaching is in my bones. So much so, that when I was a toddler, I climbed up behind the podium and,...

Public Meetings for Parents: A Survival Guide

Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Maggie Jones - connect on LinkedIn and Twitter! What I’m Listening To: Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast and Sia’s Original What I’m Reading: Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids - And Start Raising Kind Ones by Adam Grant and Allison Sweet Grant As many others living in...

How Do I Participate in a Virtual Book Club?

Wondering how ELGL hosts a book club discussion for members who are spread all over the world? Don't worry, you're not the first person to ask this question. Here's a quick overview on how to participate: Join the Facebook group or Slack channel! Why is this important? The group is where we do everything from...

#ELGLTraeger Word Cloud

We asked the nominators to use three words to describe the person they nominated for an #ELGLTraeger award. Here's a word cloud of the 300 words used to describe this year's list. Top words: passion, innovator, leader, visionary, dedicated. Yup - sounds about right!

Podcast: Trends in Human Resources with Kylie Bayer, McMinnville, OR

Kylie Bayer Human Resources Manager City of McMinnville, Oregon LinkedIn | Twitter Human Resources as a strategic partner. Kylie Bayer, the Human Resources Manager for the City of McMinnville, Oregon, joined the podcast to share the issues and trends that she sees affecting the human resources industry in local government. From pay equity to sabbaticals,...

Using 2020 to See Our Residents' Perspective

Today’s Buzz is brought to you by Jennifer Casey, Public Information Officer for the Town of Collierville, TN. Come @ me: Twitter & LinkedIn. What I’m Reading: About to start reading Fair play: a game-changing solution for when you have too much to do (and more life to live) by Eve Rodsky. What I’m Listening to:...

#ELGLTraeger: 1-10

These ten Traeger Award winners represent everything that's good in local government. Join ELGL in celebrating their accomplishments, and connect with them on Twitter and LinkedIn to learn from their expertise. ELGL and Zencity are proud to honor these ten leaders with a Traeger Award! The Top Ten Traeger Award Winners are invited to keynote...

San Francisco Recreation & Parks STIR Opportunity

San Francisco is excited to announce our newest STIR Opportunity: STIR CHALLENGE: San Francisco Recreation and Parks is looking for creative technology solutions that will promote community engagement and playful interactions throughout our parks. Rec and Parks is open to any solutions that would increase play and connection in San Francisco parks. Startup in Residence (STIR) is...