By EngagingCities
EngagingCities promotes outstanding work by our network of planners and changemakers, who actively involve their community in creating better places and a brighter future. On Fir
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The podcast currently has 6 episodes available.
Jasmine Hartenstein, Betty Nguyen, and Ellina Yin discuss the creation of San Jose’s Civics Masterclass. Discover how this free, online, self-paced course equips residents with essential knowledge on local government, parliamentary procedures, and the California Brown Act, and more. Available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, the course aims to empower diverse community members to participate in local governance. They highlight the course's development, the community feedback received, and the positive impact on participant's civic knowledge and engagement. The guests also touch on challenges faced, digital literacy needs, and future plans for expanding civic education resources in the city.
More Information
City of San Jose Civics Master Class: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/office-of-the-city-manager/office-of-racial-equity/san-jose-civics-masterclass
Or bit.ly/SJCivics
Email the San Jose Office of Racial and Social Equity at [email protected]
Jasmine Hartenstein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-hartenstein-6b141296
[email protected]
Betty Nguyen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nguyen-betty
[email protected]
Ellina M. Yin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellinay
Only in San Jose podcast: https://www.onlyinsj.org
Amber Gregg is the CEO of Community Catalyst and Vice President of Pier Pride, which is a non-profit organization in San Clemente, CA that works in partnership with the city and community stakeholders to help preserve the San Clemente pier. Amber talks about the challenges and successes of Pier Pride, community engagement strategies, and the importance of building partnerships and trust. She emphasizes how critical partnerships and collaborations have been in advancing Pier Pride's mission. Forming purposeful, meaningful partnerships with stakeholders and maintaining consistent community engagement efforts have been keys to their success. The episode concludes with practical advice for communities looking to preserve local resources.
Links and Contact Information
Amber Gregg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-gregg
Community Catalyst: https://www.community-catalyst.com
San Clemente Pier Pride: https://www.pierpride.org
Chad and JT at San Clemente City Council
Paul Walker Statue Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4QFmBlpnNw
Paul Walker Statue Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsLEzcVT8cU
Stew Meek is the Local Business Manager for the City of Commerce City in Colorado. Our conversation centers around 'Elevate Commerce,' a business retention and expansion program aimed at fostering relationships with local businesses to help the local economy thrive. Stew explains the foundational strategies behind the program, the importance of proactive and relationship-based community engagement, and the innovative aspects of creating a smart, interactive website. We also touch on the challenges faced, such as low survey responses, and reflect on the positive feedback from businesses. We explore the long-term benefits of building meaningful connections within the business community and how these relationships can be leveraged for broader economic initiatives.
Links and Contact Information
Elevate Commerce: https://elevate.c3gov.com
Qwally: https://qwal.ly
Stew Meek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewart-meek-8243232a
Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268C3N2dDYk
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4KcH1ZRV2W1q7Flq0QqC76?si=b1201af35229437c
Corrin Wendell is the Founder and Executive Director of YEP! (Youth Engagement Planning). YEP! is a non-profit organization focused on educating young people in grades K-12 about urban planning and civic engagement. They create opportunities for youth to meaningfully advocate for change in their own communities and built environments. Corrin discusses the importance of involving young voices in community decisions and creative ways for planners to include youth perspectives in urban planning projects.
Links and Contact Information
https://youthengagementplanning.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/corrinwendell
Ava Tanner the City Planner:
https://www.amazon.com/Tanner-City-Planner-Corrin-Wendell/dp/B0D19VXB9F
Carlo Tomaino, the City Manager of Signal Hill, California, discusses the successful initiative to achieve zero functional homelessness in the city by coordinating internal efforts and partnering with service providers. Though we spoke with Carlo prior to the June 28, 2024 Supreme Court ruling on City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, our conversation highlights how the City of Signal Hill’s compassionate approach is relevant regardless of any court ruling. We also discuss the previous court case of Martin v. Boise and its implications for cities.
Links and Contact Information
Learn more about the City of Signal Hill’s Homeless Services at https://www.cityofsignalhill.org/447/Homeless-Services
Carlo Tomaino: [email protected]
James Rojas and John Kamp talk about engaging people through their hands and senses for the Yolo County Active Transportation Corridors Plan (YATC) which aims to create multi-use trails, enhance mobility, and break down barriers for low-income and minority residents in this rural California community. The project leverages public interest design of transportation services to address the needs of the region's most isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Contact Information
Further Reading
Their book “Dream Play Build” delves into the psychology behind their engaging methods and provides a deeper understanding of how playful approaches can transform urban planning processes. Available in paperback and E-book formats at https://islandpress.org/books/dream-play-build.
The podcast currently has 6 episodes available.