Hard-won gains in diversity, equity, and inclusion are being rolled back everywhere since the June 2023 decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to end affirmative action in college admissions. Hear from Christine Edwards, MPA, small business owner, and government contracting expert on how small business, government contracting, venture capitalism, and more are being impacted.

The power of pop culture can unite communities in engagement and advocacy. Tiandra Evans explores the possibilities.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissent: “But deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life. And having so detached itself from this country’s actual past and present experiences, the Court has now been lured into interfering with the crucial work that UNC and other institutions of higher learning are doing to solve America’s real-world problems. No one benefits from ignorance.”

Social media can be a great resource to share information, promote events, and receive feedback. Of course, to achieve great results, there are best practices to follow. At Civility Localized, we find it important to be authentic, consistent, and patient with our content. Using social media this way cultivates online involvement that drives positive change within communities.

We asked our team what they were reading this summer, and we loved the responses so much we thought we’d share them with you. What are you reading in the summer of 2023?

At Civility Localized, we understand the importance of community engagement in placemaking. We have a proven track record of helping communities engage with developers and policymakers to create better development projects.

Community Mapping Guide: 5 Questions to ask before community engagement

Our name, Civility Localized, is a reflection of our mission to help communities grow with dignity. We believe that civility is essential for building strong and vibrant communities, and we are committed to helping our clients and partners engage in civil conversations that lead to positive change.

"The United States has a moral and legal obligation to provide reparations for the enslavement of Africans and its lasting harm on the lives of millions of Black people." - Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO) May 2023

Honoring the lived experiences, input, and time of community members during engagement initiatives is incredibly nuanced. We are honing in on universal guiding principles that serve as building blocks for quality interactions.

Considering all the different ways to develop robust and equitable engagement strategies is kind of our thing. We are community engagement experts and this is our passion. Let’s look at some of the benefits and challenges to compensating community members as a way to increase equitable participation in your next community engagement initiative.