How Dayton’s citizens’ assembly showed a new path for community engagement
The Ohio city already has a long history of civic participation, but the prospect of a new hospital on its west side made officials want to get residents involved in a new way.
California’s ‘digital democracy’ initiative invites residents to help shape AI policy
State leaders will use the public’s input to develop an AI action plan to inform policies and regulations of the tech, one official said.
How libraries can help the public engage with AI and their local government
With a better understanding of the technology, residents could be more trusting of and engaged with government’s use of AI.
REPORT: Text campaigns can help states increase public benefit participation
The results of a Maryland pilot program suggest that state agencies can increase benefit program participation through cross-enrollment by sending text alerts to residents.
REPORT: Agencies are getting better at communicating with the public, but progress remains
Agencies are increasingly leveraging audience engagement data to better communicate with residents, but how they use it is crucial to yielding the results they want, one expert says.
Governments are relying more on social media influencers
More are using influencers as trusted community messengers for public information and education campaigns, a trend that started during the pandemic and is not going away.
AI can help increase language inclusivity for governments, but risks remain
While the tech can help expand service access to non-English speakers, one expert says humans should have the final say when it comes to translating government communications, especially in high-stakes situations.
Report: Resident satisfaction with digital government has made strides, but progress remains
A new report suggests that governments can do a better job at leveraging customer experience feedback and data to better meet residents’ needs.
Utah Department of Transportation’s ‘scrappy’ social media team wins national award
The agency tries to inform Utahns of things like road closures, construction, maintenance and other transportation projects in fun, relatable ways, one official says.
Using human-centered design to improve public service experiences
Agencies may be risk-averse, but using this method is the perfect way forward as it puts those impacted by a product or service’s design at its heart.
Possible TikTok ban could restrict how many Ohio small businesses connect with customers
TikTok could be banned in the United States on Sunday, which could impact how many Ohio small businesses reach customers.
How one policymaker is dabbling as a social influencer
A New York City council member is turning to social media and short-form videos to interact with residents.
City directs a cut of opioid settlement funds to grieving families
This summer, some families in Boston could start receiving payments to cover funeral expenses and legal services.
Town turns to text messaging to boost community engagement
Andover, Massachusetts, operates under the town meeting system. Amid abysmal meeting attendance, officials turned to SMS to manage its meetings and various initiatives.
Meet Emma, Amarillo’s AI assistant and ‘digital human’
The Texas city’s generative artificial intelligence assistant will assist residents through voice conversations in multiple languages.
Beyond the books: Teens check out mental health resources at libraries
In Hartford, Kentucky, the public library invites teens to weekly sessions to foster positive thinking amid a growing youth mental health crisis.
For effective community research, get the right people at the table
When people with lived experience participate in a research project’s design, data collection and analysis, they can increase engagement, build trust and lay the groundwork for system-level change.
Downtowns need a makeover. Resident, commercial engagement could help.
Cities are finding ways to attract residents and tourists back downtown, building small business support, community spirit and a local identity.
Trust in government, and opportunities to rebuild it
Confidence in state and local government may have been waning in recent years, but there are ways communities can help to bolster their resident’s faith in them.
How tech can democratize community engagement
In contentious city planning meetings, the louder voices in the room often control the narrative, but technology can reframe the conversation and streamline the engagement process.
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