EmpowerLA’s Grayce Liu recently did a Q&A with the Aspen Institute’s Center for Urban Innovation about the importance of civic engagement. She spoke about the role Neighborhood Councils have played in increasing civic engagement in LA, and discussed how this interactive, inclusive concept differs from the way that government has traditionally interacted with stakeholders.
Civic engagement, says Grayce, is not a one-and-done deal, or about offering a minute or two of time for public comment. Instead, she says, “It really is about creating an ongoing dialogue between government and constituents. It’s about creating buy-in because a lot of times government is very top down and just does what it wants to do.”
The interview is part of the Aspen Institute’s “Listening to Inclusive Innovators” blog series, which highlights grant-makers, government officials, and leaders of businesses or nonprofits who are finding new ways to build better relationships with the people that they serve. Read the full article here: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/engagement-really-impact-needs-ongoing-dialogue/
The Aspen Institute is a nonpartisan and diverse network of thought leaders, creatives, scholars, and members of the public who work together to understand and take action on complex problems worldwide. Learn more about their mission, programs, and leadership at https://www.aspeninstitute.org. Follow their “Listening to Inclusive Innovators” series at https://www.aspeninstitute.org/topics/urban-innovation/.
