City of Akron Receives Grant from Akron Community Foundation to Fund Public Engagement Strategist

Akron, Ohio, July 30, 2024 - On Monday, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik brought legislation to Akron City Council to accept a grant of $57,600 from the Akron Community Foundation to fund a Public Engagement Strategist position. The public engagement strategist will be responsible for helping to coordinate public engagement efforts across city departments, promoting the goals of transparency and collaboration and enabling residents to engage with city processes, gain insight, and provide feedback.

"Public engagement is a cornerstone of my administration and it's crucial that we bring added capacity for this priority. Bringing someone on board who wakes up every day thinking about how to improve engagement with our residents will further this effort across the city," said Mayor Malik. "Our aim is not only to listen to feedback but to solicit it from those who have not historically felt heard and then to respond to that feedback and incorporate it whenever possible. This position will help build out our engagement efforts and enhance our capacity across all our departments. I'm grateful to the entire team at the Akron Community Foundation for providing the seed money for this new role and for their support for the City of Akron."

"We're pleased to support increased public engagement through this grant," said Akron Community Foundation President and CEO John T. Petures Jr. "One of our core values is inclusion, and we believe listening to and embracing diverse ideas improves our quality of life. This position truly aligns with that value, and we're excited to see how this role benefits all of Akron's residents."

Public engagement is a collaborative approach to problem-solving that involves bringing together citizens, businesses, community organizations, and the government to address issues that affect people's lives. It aims to ensure that the public's input is considered in decision-making processes, and that decisions are sustainable by making participants aware of different perspectives. Public engagement can also help community members stay informed, get involved in local government, and feel empowered to participate in decision-making.

The public engagement strategist will develop and manage public engagement strategies and initiatives, including analyzing feedback, establishing partnerships, and designing outreach plans. More information to come on formal job description and how to apply.