The program will focus on key aspects and practices of community engagement and then delve into how they can be applied for seeking solutions and actions to climate change.

The event’s speakers will provide an overview of the National Academy of Public Administration’s study, “Engaging Americans & Increasing Public Trust: An Agenda for 2021 and Beyond” and the City of Alexandria, Virginia’s community engagement program, What’s Next Alexandria. They will then discuss how community engagement practices and lessons learned can be used to engage people in seeking solutions and actions to climate change. The discussion will include how these practices and lessons learned can especially engage people whose thoughts and needs are often marginalized on topics that have a direct effect on them.

Presenters:

Dr. Carolyn Lukensmeyer, Founding Executive Director, The National Institute for Civil Discourse and Founder and Former President, America Speaks

Carrie Beach, Division Chief, Neighborhood Planning and Community Development, Office of Planning and Zoning, City of Alexandria, VA

Ellen Eggerton, Sustainability Coordinator, City of Alexandria, VA