Searching for Citizenship Summit

On Saturday, April 10th, the Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement (HRCCE) will host the 2nd annual civic engagement summit, Searching for Citizenship. Admission is free and open to all, but seating is limited. Please visit the HRCCE website to register online: http://hrcce.org/site/
WHRO, the Future of Hampton Roads, the Hampton Roads Partnership, and The Planning Council will once again partner with the HRCCE to engage participants in considering the role of citizens in the hard policy and budget decisions that affect their lives.
Two nationally-known speakers with deep ties to Hampton Roads will set the context for interactive sessions. Bob O'Neill was widely recognized for his "reinvention" of the government of Hampton as city manager from 1984 to 1997. He is currently executive director of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), a membership organization dedicated to creating excellence in local government through professional management.
Bill Schneider was born in Portsmouth and attended Wilson High School. He is one of the country's foremost political analysts, having been CNN's senior political analyst from 1990 to 2009. Bill is Hirst Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University and Distinguished Senior Fellow and Resident Scholar at Third Way, a Washington think tank. He is also a contributing editor to National Journal and The Atlantic Monthly. Bill has been labeled "the Aristotle of American politics" by The Boston Globe.
The first summit in April 2009 included small-group dialogues which focused on how to improve the way citizens communicate and engage with their elected officials in Hampton Roads. The HRCCE Information and Communication Team grew out of those discussions and the team has continued to meet over the past year. On April 10th, team members will present their recommendations for how to improve public-decision-making for all parties.
In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “The government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.” Please join us as we bring together citizens serving as elected or appointed officials and other members of the public to build relationships, increase mutual understanding and strengthen public decision making for the future of our democracy.

2nd Annual Civic Engagement Summit
Searching for Citizenship
Saturday, April 10, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Hampton Roads Convention Center
1610 Coliseum Drive
Hampton, VA