We the People: How to Work With Your Local Government

Robert J. O’Neill, Jr. Executive Director

International City Management Association (ICMA)Craiglist Foundation Boot Camp

UC Berkeley August 14, 2010

Why Local Government

• Federal/State Fiscal Crisis

• Local Institutions Have Staying Power

• Difficult to Get to Scale Without Public

Sector

Local Government Roles

• Convener

• Service Provider

• Catalyst

• Broker

• Conduit

Where to Start

• Where You Have an Entry?

• Could be:

Elected Official or

Senior Appointed Official or

Board or Commission or

Line Staff

Approach –Approach –

Incremental RevolutionaryIncremental Revolutionary

Connection Before ContentConnection Before Content

Flexible Search for SolutionsFlexible Search for Solutions

Issues That Matter

1. Jobs

2. Safety

3. Education

4. Healthcare

5. Environment

6. Quality of Life

7. Inclusion & Engagement