The city of Charleston will hold a civic engagement workshop, “I’m a Resident, Now What?” on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Citadel Holliday Alumni Center.
Building on the success of the city’s Neighborhood Toolkit workshop last March, I’m a Resident, Now What? will be an opportunity for residents to learn more about city operations and engage directly with city staff and their neighbors.
The workshop is being organized by the city’s Business and Neighborhood Services Division and will include an introduction to key city team members and an overview of their departments, such as Fire, Police, Traffic and Transportation, Planning and Budget. Presentations will incorporate interactive activities to help participants apply what they have learned and gain a sense of the types of issues that are brought before Charleston Mayor John J. Tecklenburg and City Council for resolutions.
Similar programs operate in cities around the country, including Charlotte, N.C., New Orleans, L.A., Pittsburgh, P.A. and Cleveland, O.H.
“Our goal for this workshop is to empower residents who want to be proactive and help shape the future of their neighborhoods,” said Mayor Tecklenburg. “This will be a great opportunity to meet city staff and begin to work together to make our city better.”
Clay Middleton, Director of Business and Neighborhood Services, said, “The intent is to engage more residents by sharing the operations of the City and provide another setting for the Mayor to connect with citizens. We also hope to increase participation and expand our Neighborhood Council, collect timely feedback, break down silos, and increase collaboration. This event is a pilot with the potential to be repeated at least twice a year.”
The workshop is open to all Charleston residents and/or property owners. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required, as space is limited. Register by September 12 at
http://www.charleston-sc.gov/neighborhoods.