FJP Community Network Grant Winner: Rivard Report

Facilitate stronger relationships between San Antonio City Council members and constituents in less-affluent districts through direct conversations, partnerships with local organizations and neighborhood events.

$24,350

In order to strengthen relationships between San Antonio’s City Council members and their constituents, foster productive conversation on local politics, and build community amongst constituents, Rivard Report will host an event series in 2020 entitled Conversations with the Council, focusing on City Council districts whose members are newly elected and districts experiencing the highest level of economic inequality. Policies passed by Council members directly affect residents because San Antonio’s council-manager form of government dictates Council act as a legislative body enacting policy on behalf of the city.

Affirmed by the city’s dismal voter turnout rate in municipal elections, we identified the need for constituents to engage directly with their representatives, and addressed this need with the launch of Conversations with the Council in 2017. The series’ format includes Council member interviews by Rivard Report staff, followed by an audience Q&A session at a selected venue in each district. The series in 2020 will follow this format. The ideal outcomes include informing attendees of pressing issues facing their district, connecting them with fellow neighbors and residents, and empowering them to take action.

The nature of this event series lends itself to full series sponsorships. Furthermore, venues within districts will be chosen on the basis of accessibility by constituents and the venue’s affinity to sponsor in-kind. This helps ensure the series’ sustainability by not creating added expenses for the organization, creating new and strengthening existing partnerships with community establishments for future event use and prospecting for financial supporters of Rivard Report.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube