Lunchtime Study Group: Co-Creating Local Government Session 5: Facing Our Biggest Challenges Together

Date: 

Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Location: 

Rubinstein 414 Democracy Lab, Harvard Kennedy School

Join us for the fifth and final session of the fall semester student study group, Co-Creating Local Government. Cities are ground zero for our greatest challenges- climate change, safe and stable housing, racial equity and justice, opioid crisis, COVID response and so much more. Drawing on the lessons from the previous session, this session will engage participants around how local governments can engage residents to co-create solutions to the challenges we face.

This event is at capacity and registration is now closed. 

Required Reading for This Session

  1. Somerville: Values, Evolution, Good Government. Stephen Lisauskus and Jennifer Flagg. June 2022.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dd15AplV8pvZDAEgCwiUSLT67axLvwFV/view?usp=sharing

About the Study Group 

What does good democracy look like in action at the local level? How do you create trust and credibility and build engagement in a community in an era of lack of trust in government? This fall Joe Curtatone, who was Mayor of Somerville for 18 years, and Kristen Stelljes, former Somervile SomerStat Director and COVID Incident Commander, will lead a five session study group that will seek to answer these questions. Drawing on their experiences in Somerville, Joe and Kristen will encourage lively debate and discussion about the role of local governments and residents. From the perspective of an elected official and a public servant, they will also share stories and examples of how the ideals of good government and public participation can be put into action. To foster active engagement, participation will be capped at 20. Sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00pm from September 21 to October 19. 

In order to help foster a stronger sense of community amongst study group attendees, we ask that students commit to participating in most if not all of the scheduled study group sessions.

Please note that this-in person study group is open to Harvard ID holders only.

Lunch will be provided.