2nd Annual CE Summit will focus on improving citizenship
Democracy is feeling pretty messy these days, and the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement is trying to do something about it.
On April 10th, HRCCE will hold its 2nd Annual Civic Engagement Summit.
The theme this year is: “Searching for Citizenship”
# The participants will talk about that and where citizens fit into problem-solving.
# The Citizens Information and Communication Team will bring the results of the information and trust work started by the attendees of last year’s summit.
# Working together, the participants will start the dialogue on accountability and civic engagement.
The event will take place at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton. It begins at 9 am, with a pre-event coffee gathering at 8:30.
Everyone concerned about the state of our democracy and desiring to improve it is invited and encouraged to attend.
The event is free, bur pre-registration is required.
Click HERE for more information.
My, how presumptuous on the part of the HRCCE and their sponsors – to believe that anyone has any business at all trying to insert themselves between citizens and their government! In our region we have a very engaged and knowledgeable citizenry. Our civic dialogue has successfully defeated effort after misguided effort from the business lobby to push their self-serving “regional agenda” on the good people of Tidewater. The problem the business lobby keeps having in getting THEIR WAY is that informed citizens organize and stop them. The HRCCE somehow believes that their “process” empowers them to decide who has an “authentic voice” and who is a “professional citizen”. The problem the taxpayers of Tidewater need to deal with is a business, political, and media “partnership” that seeks to claim that their set of Talking Points are the true “facts” required to make an “informed decision”. Yet, those “facts” rarely bring to light the truths that do not support the business lobby’s agenda. The notion that the business lobby, by way of the HRCCE will solicit to fill the room with the “right mix of voices” and seek to marginalize the voice of well informed citizens that oppose their “regional agenda” is suspect, at best. The speakers the HRCCE offers are not balanced, but they share a world view and thus become a form of propaganda. But, it is what it is – I’ll see you there. We, the citizens of Tidewater, pat close attention to the back room schemes of the well funded business lobby – and their surrogates they sponsor.
Reid-
You amaze me. What is the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance other than an organization “trying to insert itself between citizens and their government?” Last week you considered the HRCCE as a surrogate of local governments, -now they’re the spawn of the business lobby? I look forward to hearing you share your ideas with other citizens. I hope it’s not your intent to try to drown their voices out. See you Saturday.
Mr. Greenmun,
Thank you for taking the time to post your views regarding HRCCE and civic engagement in general. We look forward to hearing more about the Tidewater Taxpayer Alliance’s views on proper civic dialogue and how the citizen can be involved in the process. You will have an opportunity during the group session to provide examples of what your organization deems to be best civic engagement practices and what the citizen needs to make this process happen. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help in any of your civic dialogues throughout the Tidewater area.