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Check Out ELGL's Strategic Plan for 2022 - 2025!

At the beginning of 2022, ELGL started updating our strategic plan -- the guiding document for everything ELGL does to amplify the good and engage the brightest minds in local government. ELGL Staff, Board Members, and ELGL Members like YOU provided input and feedback through community meetings, crowdsourced social media posts, emails, surveys, and more...

Cosas Nuevas

Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Dr. Sarah Martin, Vice President of Strategic Communications at mySidewalk. Find her on Twitter @DrSarahMarie and on Medium. She is also now finally posting again on IG about once a month. What I’m Watching: Imagine my rage when I realized that ⅔ of the Law and Order...

ELGL Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025

Podcast: Local Autonomy and COVID-19 Response with Dr. Dana Patton and Joshua Pine

Dr. Dana Patton Associate Professor University of Alabama Website Joshua Pine City Innovation and Data, Program Manager National League of Cities LinkedIn Two guests joined the podcast to talk about a research paper in the State and Local Government Review that examined local government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Dana Patton, an Associate Professor...

The Real Story: How a Reality TV Empire Influences Our View of Government

Today's Morning Buzz is by Warren Kagarise, digital engagement manager for King County, WA. Connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. What I'm Reading: Adobe's "The Future of Creativity: 2022 U.S. Emoji Trend Report" about how Americans use the pictograms to convey everything from the mundane to the life-changing. What I'm Watching: "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake...

Glow in the Dark

Today’s Buzz is by Meredith Reynolds, Deputy City Manager for the City of Long Beach. Follow Meredith on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. What I’m Listening To: The #ELGL22 Playlist (sneak peek of conference energy!) What I’m Planning: Why, the ELGL22 Conference, of course! What I’m Watching: Season 1 of In The Dark show series #ELGL22...

I Have to Ask: What Accomplishments are You Most Proud of in Your Time in Government Technology?

In this series, guest columnists reflect on one of three prompts provided by ELGL Digital Communications Manager Allie Breyer (previously by ELGL Co-Founder Kent Wyatt). The guest writer for this article is Chaquinta Fisher, Desktop Support Manager – McLennan County, TX. Chaquinta's currently... Reading: Master Key to Riches Listening to: Hope City Podcast Redeemed for Relationships...

The Great Reset: How One City Transcended Turmoil

Today’s Morning Buzz is by Kayla Barber-Perrotta, Budget & Performance Manager for the City of Brighton, CO. Connect with her on LinkedIn. What I’m Listening to: 90s Kids by Jax What I’m Reading: Articles on growing peppers indoors What I’m Watching: House of the Dragon What I’m Doing: Preparing for our first Performance and Leadership...

Podcast: Building a Culture of Strategy and Innovation with Rafael Baptista, Buncombe County, NC

Rafael Baptista Director of Strategy and Innovation Buncombe County, NC LinkedIn Incremental steps to improvement. Rafael Baptista, Director of Strategy and Innovation for Buncombe County, North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about the work of his team and how they support the County organization as internal consultants. He shared how they support the County's...

There's Never Been a Better Time to Be Bold

Today’s Morning Buzz is by Jackie Wehmeyer, Senior Director of Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs for the City of Parkland, Florida. Parkland was named one of the Best Places to Work in Local Government in 2021 by ELGL and a Top Workplace in 2022. Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn. What I’m Reading: I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (I...

Thank You For Being a Pocket Friend

Welcome, dear pocket friends. Today's Morning Buzz is by Jessica VanderKolk, Communications Manager for the City of Battle Creek in Southwest Michigan. Hit me up on Twitter and LinkedIn. What I'm watching: Trying to squeeze in as much Offspring as possible. I got there late, and it's about to get the boot off Netflix. What...

Podcast: A Community-Centered Approach to Public Safety with Ryan Smith, Durham, NC

Ryan Smith Director of Community Safety City of Durham, NC LinkedIn Sending the right response. Ryan Smith, Director of Community Safety for the City of Durham, North Carolina, joined the podcast to talk about a new approach to public safety. He shared why and how the Community Safety Department was formed. Ryan outlined all of...

Podcast: Diversity and Inclusion in Peoria, IL with Melodi Green

Melodi Green Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer City of Peoria, IL LinkedIn Advancing equity in government systems. Melodi Green, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the City of Peoria, Illinois, joined the podcast to talk about diversity and inclusion. She shared her path to her current role and how her legal background guides her work...

Brazen Reform

This guest article is by ELGL member Matt Hirschinger, Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Arvada, CO. Read all of Matt's other articles at the Social Justice --> Government homepage. As I write this, I’m done with my graduate degree that’s served as the foundation of this ongoing series with ELGL. I’ve...

Leaders Reveal the Biggest Local Government Budgeting Challenges

Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Angelica Wedell, Director of Communications and Marketing at Polco. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn! What I’m Watching: Ancient Aliens What I'm Listening To: Stuff You Should Know - By Angelica Wedell and Jessie O’Brien, Polco - We’re weathering strange economic times. The federal government has passed sweeping budget programs—CARES,...

Arrive Late

Today’s Buzz is by Samantha Roberts– connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter! Growing up, I heard the constant refrain - “if you’re not 5 minutes prior to 5 minutes early, you’re late”. I sweat bullets making sure I was on time (with some success), but the metaphor never stopped at a physical destination. As I got...

Podcast: An 11-year-old talks Parks and Ice Rinks with Zach Navin, Waukesha County, WI

Zach Navin Parks Supervisor Waukesha County, Wisconsin LinkedIn | Twitter Kids need to know about local government too! To celebrate the start of the new school year, we gave the hosting duties to Mason Zeemering an 11-year-old in Athens, Georgia. Mason talked with Zach Navin, the Parks Supervisor for Waukesha County, Wisconsin all about managing...

Podcast: Using Education to Reduce Trash in DC Waterways with Layne Marshall and Julie Lawson

Layne Marshall Biologist US Environmental Protection Agency LinkedIn Julie Patton Lawson Workforce Program Analyst DC Government LinkedIn | Twitter Two guests joined the podcast to talk about reducing litter and trash in waterways. Layne Marshall, a Biologist at the US Environmental Protection Agency's Trash Free Waters Program, and Julie Patton Lawson, Workforce Program Analyst for...

Turning the Comments Off

Today’s Morning Buzz is by Lacey Dykgraaf, Communications Specialist for Slate Communications. Connect with Lacey on LinkedIn or Twitter. What I’m Reading: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires - Grady Hendrix What I’m Watching: Our Flag Means Death What I’m Listening to: Lawrence (a really great duo I highly suggest a listen to) I recently had...

Start With Caring

Today's Buzz is by Joe Warren, City Manager for the City of Belton, Mo. You can follow Joe at LinkedIn. What I'm Listening to: Turnpike Troubadours What I'm Working on: Creating a culture of high performance in the City of Belton What I'm Reading: "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success" by Phil Jackson and Hugh...