Most of my posts here on Gather relate to my interests in family, food, wine and books, and other things I pursue when not at work. Here's one of an occasional post connected to my work at Social Capital Inc. about yesterday's Boston Civic Summit, originally publisedh at http://socialcapitalinc.org.
Clearly civic engagement has arrived as a major issue. 700 people convened in Worcester last November for the Mass. Civic Engagement Summit and now 400 spent their Saturday at yesterday's Boston Civic Summit. Co-chaired by City Councilor Maureen Feeney and James Rooney of the Mass. Convention Center, yesterday's event united civic activitists from across Boston's neighborhoods.
I was only able to attend part of the day due to other commitments. Ron Bell, Governor Patrick's Director for Community Affairs, got the lunch crowd energized with his remarks. Tom Sander, Executive Director of the Saguaro Seminar on Civic Engagement in America, effectively related concepts of social capital to the concerns of the neighborhood activists in the room.
Interactive technolog used by America Speaks to facilitate the afternoon session allowed participants quickly get a sense of who was in the room and to share their common ideas and concerns. I had to leave early but am looking forward to hearing more about the final results of that "21st century town meeting".
It was also encouraging to see that the event was covered in today's Boston Globe, though Universal Hub published first, live from the Summit.
We at SCI look forward to working with others there to follow-up on the energy and ideas from the event. One idea is that the the MassCivicAction website we set up for the state summit could be a resource for follow-up to the Boston summit. Congratulations to the organizers on a successful event!
If you live in Massachusetts and want to connect with other civically active people, please join us at http://masscivicaction.org.
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What's the weblink for "live from the summit"?...
http://www.cityofboston.gov/contact/default.aspx?id=138
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/citycouncilpub.asp
See also
http://www.votejohntobin.com/blog/_archives/2008/4/25/3659782.html
BOSTON CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR
Updated 05/02/08 4:04 PM
All hearings are in the
Christopher A. Iannella Chamber on the
fifth floor of City Hall, unless noted.
NOTE:
Date and time in parentheses denotes Comcast 51 cablecast time.
Live City Council Hearing and Meetings may be viewed via
Webcast @ watch Boston City Council Television
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/live.asp
_ _ _ _ _ Mon 5-5 _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ Tue 5-6 _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ Wed 5-7 _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ Thu 5-8 _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ Fri 5-9 _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ Mon 5-5 _ _ _ _ _
9:00 AM - GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS #0341
An Ordinance to Establish
Guidelines for the Cleaning of Commercial Cooking Hood and
Ventilation Systems.
#0322 - Standard Licensing and Regulation Process for Commercial
Grease Cleaners and Inspectors. (Live)
11:30 AM - ARTS, FILM, HUMANITIES & TOURISM #0345
A grant of $159,450.00 for the
Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events (Live)
4:00 PM - GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS #0321
Special Law re: The preparation of Certain Ballots in the City. (Live)
_ _ _ _ _ Tue 5-6 _ _ _ _ _
10:00 AM - WAYS & MEANS
FY09 Budget: Property & Construction Management (Live)
1:30 PM - WAYS & MEANS
FY09 Budget: Arts, Tourism, Special Events (Live)
*Working Session*
4:00 PM - SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON BOSTON COMMON #0284
Order for a hearing re: the Boston Common
Location: Curley Room
(not televised)
_ _ _ _ _ Wed 5-7 _ _ _ _ _
11:30 AM
COUNCIL MEETING
(Live)
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/live.asp
_ _ _ _ _ Thu 5-8 _ _ _ _ _
10:00 AM - WAYS & MEANS
FY09 Budget: Parks and Recreation
(Live)
1:15 PM - WAYS & MEANS
FY09 Budget: Parks and Recreation
(if necessary)
4:00 PM - HOUSING #0501
Message and order authorizing the
Department of Neighborhood Development to apply for, accept and expend
Federal FY08 Housing and Community Development Grants. (Live)
_ _ _ _ _ Fri 5-9 _ _ _ _ _
12:30 PM - PUBLIC SAFETY #0453
Boston's Emergency Dispatch System (911) (Live)
2:00 PM - GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS #0199 Ordinance calling for
mandatory use of GPS technology
on all emergency vehicles operating in the City of Boston.
(if necessary)
Further information available at council website
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil
Subscribe to the Boston City Council Calendar template at
http://www.cityofboston.gov/contact/default.aspx?id=138
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/citycouncilpub.asp
See also
http://www.votejohntobin.com/blog/_archives/2008/4/25/3659782.html
http://universalhub.com/node/14339