Candidate Marty Walsh Seeks Civic Engagement - 2 views

• 
  #1 Mark Dempsey on 12 Oct 13

   

  At least one of the Boston Mayoral candidates is actively seeking civic engagement from residents, and will be sponsoring workshops and seminars to seek out community leaders. I don't know that I have ever heard of a candidate taking this approach. I know that candidates have actively encouraged input and feedback from community members, but I don't know if I can recall one that is attempting to encourage community leadership like this.
  
  From his website:
  COLLABORATION. As Mayor, Marty will not go it alone. Rather, he will look to cultivate leaders across the city that can bring their perspectives to City Hall and his administration.
  * Neighborhood Summits - hold an annual one-day event with programming and grassroots ideas exchanged on issues identified by residents and city officials
  * Civic Academies - establish an 8- to 12-week course for residents who wish to learn more about city government, providing community leaders with tools, training and support to make their exercise of civic involvement more effective
  Eliminate Jurisdictional Confusion - include city councilors and state agencies in conversations about city-controlled and state-controlled parks and other land within the city of Boston
  In keeping with his administration's goal of transparency and collaboration, Marty Walsh will establish a Civic Academy to educate Boston residents looking to be more engaged in various levels of civic life. The Civic Academy will be a neighborhood summit consisting of workshops and trainings and will occur twice a year. This initiative can best be understood as a highly-localized "civics course" for Bostonians interested in how their city government operates and how city services directly affect their lives, and the lives of their neighbors. It will also allow residents to directly network with their neighbors and strengthen their sense of community.
  Each session will begin with a general training around the meaning of overall civic engagement and will then branch off to trainings specific to individuals' interests. A few of the specific topics that will be included are:
  * What a civic association is, and how to start one
  * How to best access permits (building, events, etc.)
  * How an ordinance is passed
  * How to start a little league
  * How to market civic groups
  * How to start and coordinate a neighborhood watch
  Modeled on a successful program in El Paso, Texas, Boston's Civic Academy will produce graduates that are highly motivated and educated. Enrollment will be free-of-charge to Boston residents and will consist of 5-7 days of events. In addition to civic workshops, this summit will also include guest speakers, fun activities for children, and live entertainment.
  Upon completion of the course, graduates will become "Certified Civic Leaders" and will obtain credentials that are recognized by the mayor and City Council. This certification will allow graduates streamlined access to city services and will serve as a springboard for individuals looking to take more active leadership roles in their communities.
  This initiative would especially focus on recruiting women, who are underrepresented in Boston's municipal government. Marty Walsh envisions civic leaders that are truly representative of the rich diversity of talent in Boston, and the Civic Academy is one way to bridge divides in order to fully realize that vision.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">At least one of the Boston Mayoral candidates is actively seeking civic engagement from residents, and will be sponsoring workshops and seminars to seek out community leaders. I don't know that I have ever heard of a candidate taking this approach. I know that candidates have actively encouraged input and feedback from community members, but I don't know if I can recall one that is attempting to encourage community leadership like this. <br /> <br /> From his website: <br /> COLLABORATION. As Mayor, Marty will not go it alone. Rather, he will look to cultivate leaders across the city that can bring their perspectives to City Hall and his administration. <br /> * Neighborhood Summits - hold an annual one-day event with programming and grassroots ideas exchanged on issues identified by residents and city officials <br /> * Civic Academies - establish an 8- to 12-week course for residents who wish to learn more about city government, providing community leaders with tools, training and support to make their exercise of civic involvement more effective <br /> Eliminate Jurisdictional Confusion - include city councilors and state agencies in conversations about city-controlled and state-controlled parks and other land within the city of Boston <br /> In keeping with his administration's goal of transparency and collaboration, Marty Walsh will establish a Civic Academy to educate Boston residents looking to be more engaged in various levels of civic life. The Civic Academy will be a neighborhood summit consisting of workshops and trainings and will occur twice a year. This initiative can best be understood as a highly-localized "civics course" for Bostonians interested in how their city government operates and how city services directly affect their lives, and the lives of their neighbors. It will also allow residents to directly network with their neighbors and strengthen their sense of community. <br /> Each session will begin with a general training around the meaning of overall civic engagement and will then branch off to trainings specific to individuals' interests. A few of the specific topics that will be included are: <br /> * What a civic association is, and how to start one <br /> * How to best access permits (building, events, etc.) <br /> * How an ordinance is passed <br /> * How to start a little league <br /> * How to market civic groups <br /> * How to start and coordinate a neighborhood watch <br /> Modeled on a successful program in El Paso, Texas, Boston's Civic Academy will produce graduates that are highly motivated and educated. Enrollment will be free-of-charge to Boston residents and will consist of 5-7 days of events. In addition to civic workshops, this summit will also include guest speakers, fun activities for children, and live entertainment. <br /> Upon completion of the course, graduates will become "Certified Civic Leaders" and will obtain credentials that are recognized by the mayor and City Council. This certification will allow graduates streamlined access to city services and will serve as a springboard for individuals looking to take more active leadership roles in their communities. <br /> This initiative would especially focus on recruiting women, who are underrepresented in Boston's municipal government. Marty Walsh envisions civic leaders that are truly representative of the rich diversity of talent in Boston, and the Civic Academy is one way to bridge divides in order to fully realize that vision.</div>

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