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Date: 10/19/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Educators, medical professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders are among the 15 Springfield volunteers appointed to the newly formed Working Group on Civic Engagement. City Council President Jesse Lederman spearheaded the creation and appointment of the group with a goal of increasing civic engagement.
Lederman made the announcement during an Oct. 4 press conference in the City Council’s chambers. The city councilor announced the creation of the volunteer group in August as a means for increasing community participation in government.
In his opening remarks, Lederman stressed the need for more civic engagement in Springfield.
“I believe that community and public participation should be at the heart of the work local government does every single day. We need more community voices at the table to solve our city’s greatest challenges and develop the next generation of leaders,” said Lederman.
Lederman said the Working Group on Civic Engagement received a “robust response” from interested volunteers. He shared that the 15 selected applicants reflect a diverse array of people and ideologies.
“The members appointed represent a diverse cross-section of our community,” said Lederman.
The 15 members include Edward P. Boland Elementary School Principal Lisa Wilson Bakowski, pharmacist Dr. Patrice Caudle, Pastor Gumersindo “Manny” Gomez, Mass. Senior Action Council member Mable Lene Sharif and President and CEO of WAMF Consulting Ron Davis.
Additionally, the group’s other members are Frank Ryan, Kareem Kibodya, Areliz Barbosa, Jasper Mccoy, Elizabeth Payne-Ghedi, Brenda Evans, Magdalena Gomez, Erica Swallow, Juan Falcon and Jada Francis-Fisher.
The Working Group on Civic Engagement will collaborate to help improve the outreach of local government. Lederman shared that the group will look to improve turnout for local elections, increase the accessibility of local government officials and entities and encourage residents to be more involved with the city’s numerous neighborhood councils, boards and commissions.
“That’s really what it’s all about, making sure we get a new perspective from the outside to tell us how we can do our work better from a local government perspective,” said Lederman.
Lederman also announced that Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce will serve as the chair of the civic group. City Clerk Gladys Oyola-Lopez and Focus Springfield Executive Director Stephen Cary will serve in advisor roles.
In his address, Click-Bruce said he is “very honored” to receive the appointment as the working group’s leader. He aspires to work with the organization’s “great group of people” to enact positive change within the city.
“I intended to work hard, be a good listener and report to the president and the full council the recommendations made by the committee to improve communication, transparency and accountability,” said Click-Bruce.
Several members of the newly formed group highlighted their vision as appointees. Bakowski said the committee aims to aid engagement for constituents.
“We have so many residents in our city that want to be involved. … In this capacity, I hope to bring that voice for them,” said Bakowski.
Kibodya expressed his hopes that the working group advocates for increased civic engagement.
“We have to make sure we’re all doing our part to advocate for our communities,” said Kibodya.
The appointed members will serve in the Working Group on Civic Engagement until the end of the year. Lederman expects full recommendations to be made by the organization to the City Council in that time frame.