July 22nd, 2026 | 10:00am - 11:15am | Online; Zoom | Registration Fee: Free

How do your constituents interact with their government? Do the same five or ten people show up at every meeting or hearing? Would you like to learn how to engage more of your community in discussions about important public issues? This course provides elected officials with an overview of community engagement and introduces new ideas and approaches for engaging residents in discussions about important public issues. It encourages participants to think critically about who is currently showing up to engage with government, who may be missing, and what local leaders can do to broaden participation. By exploring effective engagement practices, officials can strengthen trust in local government, help community members feel heard and valued, and foster a stronger sense of belonging.

In this 75-minute interactive workshop, you will learn to:

• Assess your current efforts at community engagement.
• Tell the difference between “outreach” and “engagement.”
• Create ongoing relationships that reflect the diversity of your communities.
• Encourage public participation through helpful policies and structures.
• Value community engagement as a way to develop future community leaders.

This is a Local Elected Leaders Academy course. Participating elected officials willl earn two education credits upon completion toward their recognition goal of a Practitioner, Master, Mentor, or Laureate within the Local Elected Leaders Academy.