2010 Summit Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 9, 2010

Civic Summit Set for April 10
--Hampton Roads citizens to gather for 2nd annual civic engagement summit

Hampton, VA– Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement (HRCCE) has announced that the 2nd Annual Civic Engagement Summit, Searching for Citizenship, will take place at the Hampton Roads Convention Center, April 10, 2010. The half-day summit will feature two nationally-known speakers with deep ties to Hampton Roads.

Bob O’Neill, executive director of the ICMA (International City/County Management Association), is a former Hampton city manager; and Bill Schneider, former CNN senior political analyst, is from Portsmouth.

“Today’s challenges require the informed participation of the public and government organizations that are proactive about the engagement of their citizens.”

—Jim Oliver, HRCCE Chair

In addition to its guest speakers, the summit will also feature a report on the results of input received through the interactive sessions that took place last April with more than 300 citizens participating.

The chairman of HRCCE, Jim Oliver, former city manager of Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton and the county executive of James City County, said, “The goal of the summit is to stimulate a regional conversation about the critical responsibilities of citizens. We know they are interested in the policy and budget decisions that affect their lives. Today’s challenges require both, the informed participation of the public and government organizations that are proactive about the engagement of their citizens.”

All interested citizens, including elected and appointed public officials, civic league officers and members, participants in regional organizations, and leaders in the educational, faith, military and business communities of the region are encouraged to register and participate in the summit.

The 2010 summit is supported by TowneBank, presenting sponsor; and community partners WHRO, The Planning Council, Hampton Roads Partnership, Future of Hampton Roads, and the Portsmouth Partnership.

Admission to the half-day summit is free. Registration is available on the HRCCE’s Website at HRCCE.org.

Robert J. “Bob” O'Neill

Executive Director, ICMA (International City/County Management Association). Mr. O'Neill's "reinvention" of the government of Hampton, Virginia, as city manager from 1984 to 1997, was widely recognized; his many accomplishments included a downtown and waterfront revitalization initiative and development of a nationally recognized youth-at-risk program.

Bill Schneider

Hirst Professor & Senior Fellow and Resident Scholar, Third Way
Author, scholar and former CNN senior political analyst, Mr. Schneider is also a Portsmouth native. He has been called "the Aristotle of American politics." In 1997, Washingtonian magazine named Schneider one of the 50 most influential Washington journalists.

2nd Annual Civic Engagement Summit
Searching for Citizenship
April 10, 2010
9:00am– 1/2-Day Event
Hampton Roads Convention Center
Admission: Free
Registration at HRCCE.org

About Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement:

The mission of the Center is to support sustainable deliberative democracy in Hampton Roads and to connect public decision making with civil dialogue and the informed judgment of the region’s citizens.

Presenting Sponsor:

Community Partners:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Ken Wheeler
(757) 889-9359
Email: kwheeler6@verizon.net
(To arrange interviews with an HRCCE representative, or for speaker information or to schedule a speaker interview.)