Today on the show, a conversation with the aldermen of Batavia's Ward 4, Tony Malay and Dustin Pieper.

Batavia is a place of belonging and acceptance. But this kind of culture doesn't come by accident. A town's culture is shaped by structures and systems. The culture we enjoy in Batavia is a direct result of the more formal acts of local government, staff, and public servants.

In this episode, I spoke with two aldermen whose Ward is particularly diverse, and particularly influential to the makeup of Batavia. Ward 4 includes a bunch of Batavian staples: Aldi corporate, River street, Batavia Apartments, and the historic black neighborhood at North River street.

That's a lot of history, economic diversity, and fast-moving change all in one location. So how do those in power protect and cultivate a sense of belonging in the midst of all of that? It turns out, it takes a combination of proactive policies, personal action, and relationship building.

Subscribe to our newsletter to be updated about Area Code: Batavia and find out when new episodes are available.

Join The 630 to support this podcast and our mission to create a stronger sense of belonging in our community. Members will receive:

• Free access to quarterly live shows.
• Off-week episodes of our bonus podcast, “The Batavia Insider”.
• Influence future Area Code: Batavia content. Your voice will help guide future topics and interviews.
• Regular opportunities to meet up in person with fellow Batavians who share your passion for our town and want to build stronger bonds.

Area Code: Batavia is always looking for sponsors. Click here for more information.

Area Code: Batavia is produced by Area Code Audio. It's hosted and produced by Richard Clark. Our associate producer and co-host is Alexa Swidenbank. Edited and mixed by Matt Linder. Additional production help from Jennifer Clark.

Mentioned in this episode:

212 Construction Group