LOC News
The LOC is pleased to present a new virtual workshop, “Community Engagement Essentials: Principles and Practices for Local Government Leaders.”
This highly interactive workshop equips local elected officials and senior staff with the principles, tools, and real‑world insights needed to place meaningful community engagement at the center of government decision‑making. Participants will explore what true “community engagement capacity” is, why it matters, and how building it leads to better outcomes for agencies and the communities they serve.
The workshop outlines the essential elements of a strong engagement program and offers practical guidance for designing agency‑wide strategies and project‑specific plans. Facilitators will help establish a shared understanding of key concepts, highlight the choices leaders face when crafting effective public involvement efforts, and provide resources to support long‑term culture change that sustains authentic community engagement.
The session is led by experienced practitioners and researchers who bring deep expertise in public sector engagement, organizational development, and collaborative decision‑making.
Presenters:
- Greg Greenway brings extensive experience helping local governments design effective community engagement strategies and coauthoring statewide research on engagement practices.
- Diane Odeh contributes expertise in civic engagement, social equity, and public sector training informed by her academic research and nonprofit leadership background.
- Gary Farnsworth offers more than 30 years of practical leadership in public engagement, collaborative decision‑making, and conflict resolution across state transportation agencies.
- Dr. Paul Leistner adds deep knowledge of community engagement systems, grounded in decades of research, training, and community‑based organizational support.
Workshop Details:
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Date: March 23, 2026
Location: Virtual
Cost: $259
Limited spaces are available.
Register Here
Agenda
Contact: Heather Larson, Training Coordinator – hlarson@orcities.org
Last Updated 2/20/2026