Ideas Worth Stealing: Block Party Promotions and Diversity Festivals

An Idea Worth Stealing: Denver Days

Many great ideas come from other cities, and Denver Days is certainly an idea worth considering. This is a 9-day event that encourages neighbors to host block parties, work projects and other activities to get to know their neighbors. In its 5th year, Denver Days attracted more than 200 gatherings this year. For more information visit the Denver Days website.

President, National Civic League

Learning About Democratic Practices with City Managers

The National Civic League is working with the Charles F. Kettering Foundation to organize "learning exchanges" to explore the ways professional city managers engage with members of the public to foster democratic practices in communities. The exchanges have facilitated wide-ranging conversations about civic engagement efforts...Read more

Municipal I.D. Cards Helping Vulnerable Residents

The City of Little Rock's new Identification Card program has issued 262 cards to date, with more than 1,000 people having scheduled appointments to apply for the useful ID. The identification card program was launched to help residents without licenses, open bank accounts and access other important services. Read more

Former Senator Fred Harris Discusses Race

Former Senator Fred Harris reflects on race and poverty 50 years after the Kerner Commission at the National Conference on Local Governance. He was the most active member, and is now the only surviving member of President Johnson's National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Commission).

Watch the speech .

Aurora Shows Off Diversity with Global Fest

Aurora, Colorado recently celebrated the diversity of its community with Global Fest. Aurora, a 2008 All-America City and League Sustaining Member, hosts this event annually to honor the city's many different cultures. Learn more about the event, hear participant reflections and view pictures.

Civic Engagement in the News: 7 Recent Stories

Theodore Roosevelt, one of the founders of the National Civic League, called on Americans to "be actors, and not merely critics of others." With divisiveness permeating much of the national dialogue, the importance of civic engagement is being increasingly discussed as a solution.