Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center’s Post

We continue the section on cooperation with our clients. Today's spotlight is on Iryna Ozymok, director of the local economic development program at the Western NIS Enterprise Fund and founder of the International Mayors Summit. In an exclusive comment for Interfax, Iryna shares her vision of the challenges of urbanization and its impact on the new generation. Key insights include: 🔹 Youth should be an active subject in decisions that shape the future of cities. Their involvement in the processes of management and development of urban projects contributes to the creation of attractive and responsible urban environments. 🔹 Investing in non-formal education and information campaigns, equip young people with knowledge about urban governance and public activities, and expand their opportunities to influence community development. 🔹 The introduction of structures, such as children's town halls or youth councils, where young people can officially express their ideas and proposals, ensures their direct participation in decision-making and contributes to the democratization of city management. We believe in the potential of youth as drivers of innovation and change.

Results from the CNPP Evaluation assessed the implementation of the Hub and Spoke model, with a focus on underserved groups. See Optimal's Community Navigator Pilot Program Evaluation to learn more: https://hubs.li/Q02GxLSc0

New blog: David Allan shares his thoughts around the progress of community-led action research – and what could be next for this approach in Scotland. "For us, community-led action research is a clear example of community development in action. It’s communities coming together to decide what issues needs to be researched, designing and carrying out the research, and making use of the results. We’ve also recently seen a significant shift in the way research is viewed by academia, funders and government with more of a focus on community involvement and engagement in research - and less of a focus on top-down research. Has community-led action research’s time come? We think so. And we’re beginning to have conversations about what this might look like." https://lnkd.in/ekgFYqnq

Join us tomorrow as we discuss the progress made and lessons learned in Missouri regarding digital equity.

As our cities and communities grapple with increasing social isolation and division, Shamichael Hallman’s new book, MEET ME AT THE LIBRARY offers a compelling perspective on a vital but often overlooked institution—the public library. More than just spaces for books, libraries are transforming into hubs of social cohesion, civic renewal, and inclusivity. For urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders, this book provides valuable insights on how libraries can be leveraged to bridge socioeconomic divides, foster dialogue, and create strong, connected communities. From innovative programming to productive partnerships, Hallman highlights real-world examples of how libraries are playing a critical role in our civic infrastructure. A must-read for anyone interested in community development and social impact, Meet Me at the Library challenges us to rethink the role libraries play in shaping our future. Islandpress.org/libraries

As our cities and communities grapple with increasing social isolation and division, Shamichael Hallman’s new book, MEET ME AT THE LIBRARY offers a compelling perspective on a vital but often overlooked institution—the public library. More than just spaces for books, libraries are transforming into hubs of social cohesion, civic renewal, and inclusivity. For urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders, this book provides valuable insights on how libraries can be leveraged to bridge socioeconomic divides, foster dialogue, and create strong, connected communities. From innovative programming to productive partnerships, Hallman highlights real-world examples of how libraries are playing a critical role in our civic infrastructure. A must-read for anyone interested in community development and social impact, Meet Me at the Library challenges us to rethink the role libraries play in shaping our future. Islandpress.org/libraries

Just registered for this webinar and sharing with all my water infrastructure peeps: Transform Your Practice: Community Engagement Strategies for Trust, Impact & Civic Pride (nextcity.org) https://lnkd.in/gquXrZEn The webinar follows the release of Transform Your Practice: A community engagement card deck, a practical tool that highlights impactful strategies while challenging misconceptions about what outreach can and should achieve: https://lnkd.in/gHr2Y6fR

Curious to know what TRU Gaglardi's impact has been on the Kamloops community and beyond? Check out our newest report below!

Liked this white paper outlining the approach and evaluation criteria towards comparison of vector databases - functional and non-functional aspects such as enterprise support, community engagement, and most importantly the context matters 👇 https://lnkd.in/gseMxKV7

According to the June 4th Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Digital Beat article, Neighbors Providing Service to Neighbors, Vermont's Approach to Community Broadband, "In 2019, The Vermont Department of Public Service found that nearly a quarter of Vermont addresses lacked service that met the then federal benchmarks for broadband speeds...The COVID-19 pandemic only underscored the urgent need in a state that has consistently ranked near the bottom of connectivity comparisons over the past decade." The article continued to explain how Vermont communities organized and innovated, setting a model for the rest of the nation to follow in using Communications Union Districts (CUDs) as a solution. "Through these CUDs, Vermonters in 216 of the state's 252 towns are combining forces to improve broadband access for their communities. It is, as State Representative Laura Sibilia puts it, "neighbors providing service to neighbors." Click the link below to read the full article which details the history of the formation of ECFiber, including mentions of current ECFiber Board Chair F. X. Flinn and former co-founder and CFO Stan Williams, a review of Vermont Act 71, created to accelerate community broadband development, the creation of the Vermont Community Broadband Board as well as other Vermont CUDs - NEK Broadband, DVFiber, and CVFiber. https://lnkd.in/gSzQ9A85 #ECFiber #communitybroadband #CUDs #vermont #broadband