Public Square: Conversations in Democracy

Mar 25 2024 2

Public Square: Conversations in Democracy Podcast artwork

The public sector is ripe for a reboot! The good news? There's no shortage of global game-changers fearlessly leading the charge. Every month on Public Square: Conversations in Democracy, we spotlight the innovators who are redefining and reinvigorating local democracies around the world. We discuss everything from emerging democratic technologies to creative community engagement strategies, and other powerful means for social impact. This is a go-to resource for policy-makers, public servants, or anyone interested in the exciting journey toward a more democratic future.

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Humanizing government in New York City - with Adrienne Lever

Mar 25 2024 36 mins

Bureaucracy can often stand in the way of meaningful connections between communities and the institutions that serve them. But what if there was a way to bridge that gap?With Adrienne Lever, Director of the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit in New York City (US), we discussed how we can humanize government and build stronger communities, sharing insights on effective approaches to

Shaping Newham together: Lessons learned from People Powered Places, with Sadia Ur-Rehman and Amélie Pollet

Feb 13 2024 51 mins

This podcast episode takes us into the heart of London's Borough of Newham, introducing us to the innovative People Powered Places program. Guests Sadia Ur-Rehman and Amélie Pollet, the dynamic duo behind the initiative, talk us through Newham's significant participatory budgeting project of 1.6 mio GBP. In our conversation, Sadia and Amelie discuss their strategies for co

Building trust & community connections in Viña del Mar

Jan 08 2024 57 mins

Travel with us to Chile to learn from Nicole Markwick, Co-Coordinator of Citizen Engagement for the Municipality of Viña del Mar. This episode covers everything from the importance of civic education and being connected to community groups, to how governments can use creative outreach tactics and tools like WhatsApp to expand their reach. Nicole also shared how trust building come

Smart cities and AI in Trondheim, with Øyvind Tanum

Dec 11 2023 38 mins

On this episode, Øyvind Tanum, Head of Smart City for the City of Trondheim, shares some of the ingredients of a strong culture of engagement, how to increase openness and awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) in government, and how digital tools have helped increase the chance of a good engagement experience in Trondheim.

Youth engagement in Antwerp - with Roel Camps

Nov 16 2023 48 mins

How much of a say should young people have in democracy? And how can local governments effectively reach their younger residents? Listen in to hear from Roel Camps, the City of Antwerp's Youth Participation Expert. This episode is packed with tips from Antwerp's innovative approach to engaging young people through digital and traditional methods, and also features insights

National level community engagement in Luxembourg - with Steve Glangé

Oct 25 2023 48 mins

This episode features Steve Glangé from Luxembourg’s Ministry of Digitalisation and Administrative Reform, talking about community engagement on a national level. Listen in for an enlightening discussion on multilingual engagement, combining online and offline methods, and engaging beyond residents.

Equitable comprehensive planning in Seattle - with Aja Hazelhoff

Sep 19 2023 53 mins

How do you get people excited about participating in a city’s planning process, especially a long-term comprehensive plan? How can you center equity in your process and your plan? Listen to Aja Hazelhoff, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at the City of Seattle's Office of Planning & Community Development, to hear how Seattle approached this important piece of work, an

An introduction to the Public Square - with Wietse Van Ransbeeck

Aug 01 2023 19 mins

A behind-the-scenes conversation with the host of Public Square: Conversations in Democracy, Wietse Van Ransbeeck, to introduce the podcast and its place in the Civic Tech, GovTech, and participatory democracy sphere.