Words of wisdom from one of our partners: “The history of this country is resilience, bouncing back. And I’m confident that we’ll do that. Where did I get that confidence? How do I know that? I learned it from people like you.” Speech to All-America Cities in 2019 by David Mathews, recently retired CEO of The Kettering Foundation, who was the subject of a tribute last week. 

President, National Civic League

2023 AAC Application

Now Available

Institute Helps Advance Racial Equity 

Membership Has Its

Perks . . .

The 2023 All-America City Awards will recognize communities that are working to improve the lives of young people, with particular attention to efforts that engage young people in this work. The 2023 awards seek to identify communities that are breaking down barriers to meaningful youth participation and enacting programs that will improve quality of life. Learn more and apply.

“Equity is a journey of the self. You’ve got to feel it in your heart.” With these words, Biddeford, Maine City Manager Jim Bennett helped close the 18-month journey of the Racial Equity Leadership Institute hosted this past year by the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA), The Kettering Foundation and National Civic League.  

Read more.

To further our mission, the League is undertaking a membership drive during the month of October. Our goal is to add 25 individual, municipal, or organizational members by the end of the month, and we need your help! The first 25 individuals who sign up their cities or counties, or refer a local government that joins, will receive a free Southwest Airlines gift card. Join us!

Summit County Presents Community Aging Plan

Build Digital Solutions for the Public Good

Webinar: Creating a Civic Learning Environment

Summit County is one of the four communities the League is working with as part of the community assistance program, "Enhancing the Equity and Inclusiveness of Age-Friendly Initiatives." During the Colorado Municipal League's summer conference, Lorie Williams presented an update on Summit's Livable Community Action Plan, including an overview of their process, those involved, key demographics, and next steps. Learn more here. 

A new program of the Census Open Innovation Labs offers a framework to facilitate collaboration between technologists and community advocates to design digital solutions to tough problems. The Opportunity Project (TOP) helps companies, non-profits, and universities turn federal open data into new technologies that solve real-world problems for people across the country. Explore how TOP has addressed pressing challenges here. 

Teachers do not need to shy away from teaching their students the challenges and virtues of democratic self-governance. Democracy can inform how their classrooms operate and how they choose to teach. It is more than a curriculum. It is part and parcel of the learning environment. Join us on this October 25th webinar to hear from education experts and teachers who are committed to teaching the skills of deliberative democracy to their young students. Register here.