CITYWATCH - Some 600-750 Neighborhood Council activists invaded City Hall on Saturday to advocate, educate and celebrate. It was the 2012 edition of the Congress of Neighborhoods.
The packed nearly 30 workshops and sessions, mingled with the city’s electeds and elected wannabes and shared ideas and frustrations with their fellow activists during the non-stop networking opportunity that is the NC Congress.
Unofficial survey listed ‘Charming the Challenging Person’, ‘Leadership Skills for Board Members’, ‘Creating Community Partnerships’, “Roundtable with City Departments’, ‘Lobby Like a Pro’, and ‘Council Files’ as the most popular sessions. Many, however, like Jack Humphreville’s ‘City Budget: Is the City Heading Towards Insolvency’ was standing room only.
The packed ‘Action Session’, near the close of the Congress, discussed the appointment of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment’s next general manager. The group argued that they should have a ‘seat at the table’ in the selection of their leadership and that their leaders should come from within. They then voted to support the appointment of current Interim GM, Grayce Liu, to permanent general manager.
The mood was upbeat throughout the event and feedback was positive.
“Was the Congress what I expected,” asked one NC board member? “No. It was much better,” she answered.
Other responses:
“Way to go guys! I thought I was alone (first time engaged citizen) and I’m not.”
“I learned soooo much from this event. Power to the People.”
Cindy Cleghorn, who spearheaded the planning and production of the Congress summed it up: “I think the Congress was a huge success due to the hard working professional committee and fabulous DONE staff … Thomas Soong—we love you. Great speakers. City support and guidance and positive feedback from attendees. I’m grateful t the many hardworking volunteers, city staff and others who made it happen.”
Click here for NC Congress slide show.
Click here for “Lobby Like a Pro” workshop video.
NCCongressLA.com will have more post-congress info, photos, reports soon.
(Ken Draper is the editor of CityWatch. He can be reached at [email protected].)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 77
Pub: Sept 25, 2012