Daily Resource Highlight - 11/22/2021

Posted by on November 22, 2021 at 4:07 PM

Below are the highlights and featured resources of this past week’s Daily* Resource.

November 16, 2021 - Shining the Spotlight on City Leaders -- Offering Innovative Support

Before I was an alum of Michigan Law, I was a Johns Hopkins Blue Jay. JHU has a long list of impressive alumni, but Michael Bloomberg stands apart due to his tremendous investments in the University. One such investment is the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation, which wants to support innovative city leaders.

If you work in a city with a Chief Innovation Officer or equivalent position that can dedicate 10-12 city staffers to solving a priority problem on a part-time basis, make sure to apply by November 19th! And if you live in such a city, forward this email to your friend in city government. Selected cities will gain access to the Center’s “state-of-the-art innovation curriculum” and will be guided through the process of developing a solution with community buy-in. Participating cities will also have the opportunity to connect with other cities to exchange ideas, experiences, and other forms of support.

For those of us who aren’t plugged into city politics, there’s still the opportunity to be inspired. This Thursday, November 18th @ 6:30 PM ET, Junior State of America will be hosting Fall State 2021: Redefining Democracy with Keynote Speaker Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston, TX. Houston has been at the forefront of local innovation, and was actually one of just 20 cities to receive a Cities of Service Leadership Grant back in 2010.

You can book your ticket for Fall State 2021 here. Tickets are free, but donations are encouraged.  

November 18, 2021 - The First Amendment is Not a Suggestion

Have you ever heard that the First Amendment doesn’t protect yelling “fire!” in a crowded theater? If so, you should also know that that’s not actually true. The First Amendment’s freedom of speech clause is far from absolute, but it covers a large swath of speech that we might consider evil or destructive.

That includes misinformation and disinformation. Other than in very, very specific circumstances, the government cannot outlaw lying. However, while you cannot be sent to jail for creating and sharing a false meme, you can be punished by private actors. 

Business for America argues that dis/misinformation is a threat to our civic future, and corporations should take an active role in spreading verifiable news. You can watch the full webinar on the Fulcrum, including how several civic and business leaders view the problem. 

Separately (but somewhat relatedly), if you would like to hear some great stories about how civic leaders are fighting corruption, be sure to watch the 20th Annual Anti-Corruption Awards presented by IndependentVoting.org. It’s a nice reminder that there are people who are working hard to get our nation to a better place, and that many of them are succeeding in their efforts!

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