AGENCY TESTIMONY
Broader civic engagement initiatives at Brooklyn Public Library
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64 sec
Edwin Maxwell expands on the broader civic engagement efforts of Brooklyn Public Library, emphasizing their role in building community and fostering civic literacy beyond just voter education.
- Library workers are dedicated to building community and fostering neighborhood connections
- Offers 20 volunteer-led conversation groups for English language learners each week
- Hosts monthly community dinners for those reentering society after incarceration
- Provides space for city council members, agencies, and commissions to hold office hours or programs
- Focuses on collaborative engagement to instill a sense of belonging and community
Edwin Maxwell
0:36:04
What I've described to you is a lot, and it takes a lot of effort to make it happen.
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But this is just the start of the civic engagement that happens in libraries.
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Library workers are dedicated to building community, fostering neighborhood connections, and increase civic literacy.
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We intentionally cultivate a sense of belonging at our branches.
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From our programs, to our emphasis on intellectual freedom, all with the larger goal of empowering our patients.
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BPL offers 20 volunteer led conversation groups for English language learnments each week and monthly community dinners for those reentering society after incarceration.
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Almost every week a city council member, city agency or city commission utilizes a branch for office hours to or a program to invite neighbors to participate in our city's government.
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These programs deliberately center collaborative engagement to instill a sense of belonging and community.
