Peoria Standard

Peoria City Council Member Andre W. Allen has been chosen as one of the delegates to attend the upcoming "Local Government 2030: Action for the Future, a National Convening of Practitioners and Elected Officials." This event, scheduled to take place on January 26-27, 2024, at the Phoenix Campus of Arizona State University, aims to bring together leaders from various levels of government to discuss and catalyze change.

"We are honored to have Council Member Allen as part of this important initiative to help chart the course for the future of local government," said Wally Bobkiewicz, a member of the Convening Organizing Committee. "The Delegates will leave Phoenix with a blueprint for change."

The selection process for the delegates was highly competitive, with Mr. Allen being chosen from a pool of City and County officials from across the nation. Alongside 50 local government practitioners, all under the age of 40, the thirteen elected officials will work towards breaking down silos and creating the groundwork for change.

The Local Government 2030 convening builds upon the efforts of the National Academy of Public Administration, which issued a call to government professionals in 2019 to address the "Grand Challenges" facing the nation. Recognizing that no single group can solve these challenges alone, local government professionals from around the country have come together to provide leadership in implementing solutions.

The upcoming event in Phoenix follows the first Local Government 2030 convening that took place in November 2022 at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. During the past year, the delegates from the initial convening have been working on projects focused on workforce, communications, and justice-impacted individuals. The second convening aims to build upon this work and develop plans for carrying forward change in local government.

Inspired by the Minnowbrook Conferences, the Local Government 2030 convening seeks to catalyze new thinking and bring about innovative solutions to the challenges faced by local governments.

Councilman Allen's selection as a delegate is a testament to his dedication and commitment to finding innovative solutions for the future of local government. His participation in this national convening will not only represent the city of Peoria but also contribute to the collective efforts of leaders working to shape the future of local governance.

The Local Government 2030 convening holds great promise in providing a platform for collaboration and the exchange of ideas. By breaking silos and fostering dialogue, this event has the potential to bring about meaningful change in local government and address the pressing challenges faced by communities across the nation.