WCC was pleased to welcome Dr. Sarah Sayeed, Chair and Executive Director of the NYC Civic Engagement Commission, for an enlightening discussion with our moderator and lifetime WCC member (Grace) Angela Henry.
Together, they led a dynamic conversation about how civic engagement has been impacted by COVID-19 and shared many ways people can stay involved while staying home.
Dr. Sayeed’s Civic Engagement Commission is tasked with making civic engagement more robust and accessible to all New Yorkers. She discussed three priorities for the Civic Engagement Commission–(1) Participatory Budgeting; (2) Interpretation at Poll Sites; and (3) Strengthening Community Boards. These are a great place to ensure that everyone can get involved—but especially women—to learn about and advocate for issues in their communities.
Dr. Sayeed also discussed how the digital divide impacts everyone’s ability to stay civically engaged during this time. There is much work to be done to ensure everyone has access to reliable broadband connectivity, particularly as more programs and services rely on online optimized participation. We are grateful for Dr. Sayeed’s leadership on these critical issues that WCC cares so deeply about–and, look forward to working closely together.
