Show Notes
Doug Linkhart on All-America Cities, Civic Engagement, and Building Trust in Local Government
Host Jim Hunt interviews Doug Linkhart, president of the National Civic League, about the All-America City competition and what it shows about communities working together.
Linkhart shares his background in Colorado state and local government and says the All-America City event is an uplifting celebration of what is good in America.
He says he is encouraged by people's courage and by large numbers of residents showing up to help, sharing examples from Montgomery, Alabama (changing a flag with Confederate symbols) and Franklin, Tennessee (strong community turnout).
They discuss building trust through listening, follow-through, transparency, and more ways for people to give input beyond council meetings.
Linkhart also describes the League's "Better Public Meetings" program and a democracy ecosystem map of 12,000+ groups on the League's website. He announces he will retire in November.
00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:35 Meet Doug Linkhart 01:36 Doug's Public Service 03:34 All-America City Uplift 05:05 Hope Stories Winners 08:27 Culture of Engagement 10:21 Building Trust Locally 12:35 Anger Safety Meetings 17:51 Healing Through Crisis 23:43 Better Public Meetings 25:51 Civic League Beyond Awards 28:49 Welcoming Immigrants 31:21 Retirement Reflections 34:45 How Any City Applies 35:54 Final Closing Thanks
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