Learning Session: New York City Hall Civic Engagement Team

October 4th 2023

High levels of civic trust and civic engagement are key to a thriving democracy. In December 2022 Mayor Adams announced an Office of Engagement to prioritize community engagement for his administration and to increase and improve citywide engagement efforts. Chicago is the only other major US city with such an office. Can such a focus within city government increase civic trust and democratic participation in NYC and, if so, how? 

The Office of Engagement, led by Betsy MacLean, former executive director of Hester Street oversees the Community Affairs Unit, Public Engagement Unit, NYC Service, and the Civic Engagement Commission and coordinates outreach and engagement across all city agencies. Their efforts to transform the culture of engagement in the city include building on NYC Speaks, increasing cross-agency coordination and collaboration, proactive voter engagement and activation through DemocracyNYC, and “The People’s Money,” which is New York City’s first-ever citywide participatory budgeting process, open to anyone 11 and up, regardless of immigration or incarceration status. 

This webinar provides an opportunity to hear from the City Hall “democracy team” and learn more about how they are approaching increasing civic trust and engagement: the challenges and the opportunities.

Speakers

Betsy MacLean, Chief Engagement Officer, City of New York
Kathleen Daniel, Chief Democracy Officer, City of New York
Dr. Sarah Sayeed, Chair & Executive Director, Civic Engagement Commission, City of New York

The conversation is moderated by GoVoteNYC co-chair Martha King of the Revson Foundation.