Eileen O’Connor, senior VP for communications, policy, and advocacy, the Rockefeller Foundation, spoke at the National Homeland Security Consortium meeting in January 2024.

As we advance in our local government careers, we will all face public criticism—sometimes fairly, sometimes not. How will we respond?

Identifying the three key disruptive forces that affect local governments: national politics filtering in local governance, technology/social media, and social issues.

Is the national divide impacting communities? A recent survey asks local governments how they deal with polarization when traditional approaches to engagement are no longer enough.

A thorn in the side of local government can become an opportunity to strengthen your community.

While often referred to as flyover states, rural America can be the calm and example for “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Understanding the various roles of elected officials and how the CAO and staff can best support them.

A crowd-sourced poem from those in local government about the communities we aspire to have.

With government officials hoping for more trust and the public asking for transparency and ethical behavior, there is one solution that addresses both sides: public engagement.