The White House honors 13 Local Innovation Champions of Change who have committed themselves to creating a more open and innovative government through entrepreneurship.

ICMA congratulates member Mary Bunting, city manager of Hampton, Virginia, who received this prestigious designation for “translating complex issues into everyday values, making them more accessible, and on reaching people through additional channels – such as social media and the internet – allowing residents to become involved on their own schedule and in a way that’s less intimidating than speaking out at a city council meeting.”

Congratulations to member Douglas Matthews, chief communications director of Austin, Texas, who was recognized for “being an active proponent of reinventing community engagement and resident communication, and being a local champion for realizing new ways to innovate collaboratively with residents and the private sector.” 

The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative to recognize people like Bunting and Matthews for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

Read the blog entries of Mary Bunting, Ensuring Local Budget Choices Are Understood and Doug Matthews, Government as Connector for their stories.