Public Engagement Associates

05/28/2026

Building a culture of biking requires communities designed for safe, connected, and accessible transportation.

Transportation leaders across the country are creating more bike-friendly streets that help cyclists and motorists safely share the road. At Public Engagement Associates, we’ve been supporting community engagement efforts in several communities focused on improving roadway safety and encouraging active transportation for everyone.

Read more about the innovative approaches helping build a stronger culture of biking:
https://www.kittelson.com/ideas/the-2026-bike-month-project-roundup/

Learn how transportation leaders are creating safer streets and connected bikeways to support bicycle commuting in their communities.

05/20/2026

Congratulations to Joe Goldman on being recognized in the 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy list for his work advancing civic participation and democratic engagement. Recognition like this reflects more than individual leadership - it reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening democracy through public participation.

Steve, Hala and I worked closely with Joe on projects AmericaSpeaks — work grounded in the belief that communities should have a meaningful voice in shaping the decisions that affect their lives. Thank you, Joe, for continuing to champion democratic participation at a critical moment for our country.

https://time.com/collection/time100-philanthropy/2026/joe-goldman/

Find out who else is on the TIME100 Most Influential People in Philanthropy 2026 list

05/06/2026

More than 275 people have shared feedback on the Swords into Plowshares: Recast | Reclaim Hood, MASS, and PUSH proposals, helping shape what public memory in Charlottesville will carry forward.

From connecting land and community, to revealing buried histories, to powerful symbols of justice and belonging, each proposal offers a distinct vision.

PEA is proud to be part of the PUSH studio DC proposal team, an interdisciplinary studio comprised of individuals with expertise in landscape architecture, urban design and architecture. Through our collaboration, we are thrilled to be supporting community-centered engagement and helping bring these stories forward.

Read more about PUSH Studio and the Swords Into Plowshares exhibition here: https://www.sipcville.com/

04/22/2026

We are thrilled to be partnering with CHCI for the 2026 CHCI Health Dialogue Series happening today on Capitol Hill.

This session will focus on two key areas shaping the future of care:

• Policies impacting drug development, pricing, and biomedical innovation
• Advancing women’s health across the lifespan for Latina women and their families

These are the kinds of conversations that drive meaningful progress for communities and the nation as a whole.

🔗 Register here:
https://events.chci.org/event/HealthDialogueSeries2/summary

04/21/2026

We’re proud to be part of Community Dialogue Partners.

Across the country, communities are facing complex challenges—and too often, the spaces meant for dialogue fall short. Meetings break down. Voices go unheard. Trust erodes.

That’s why we’re excited to join Community Dialogue Partners—a collective of experienced facilitators committed to transforming how communities engage, deliberate, and move forward together.

At Public Engagement Associates, this work is at the core of what we do. Through this partnership, we’re deepening our ability to support:

• Inclusive, large-scale community dialogue
• Productive conversations on complex and divisive issues
• Meaningful public input that informs real decisions
• Trust-building across diverse stakeholders

Together, we’re building on the legacy of AmericaSpeaks and advancing modern approaches that combine proven methods with new tools—helping communities turn conversation into action.

If your community is navigating tough decisions, we’re here to help create a better way forward.

Learn more: https://communitydialoguepartners.com/

Community Dialogue Partners - Reimagining public dialogue and multi-stakeholder collaboration for a polarized nation and divided communities.

04/15/2026

Register now for the 2026 CHCI Run to Lead Virtual 5K! 🏃‍♀️

From June 5–7, 2026, participants across the country will come together to run, walk, and move in support of CHCI’s mission to Develop the Next Generation of Latino Leaders®. This nationwide event is a meaningful way to support leadership development while celebrating health, movement, and community.

Register today and learn more: https://runsignup.com/Race/DC/Washington/CHCIRunToLeadVirtual5K

04/15/2026

Register now for the 2026 Run to Lead Virtual 5K! 🏃‍♀️

From June 5–7, supporters across the country will run or walk in support of CHCI’s mission to Develop the Next Generation of Latino Leaders®. Join with friends, family, or go at your own pace.

🔗 Register here: runsignup.com/Race/DC/Washington/CHCIRunToLeadVirtual5K

03/24/2026

In honor of Women’s History Month, we recognize the powerful voices of women who have courageously advocated for peace.

Cindy Sheehan turned personal loss into purpose, becoming a leading voice against war and raising awareness about its human cost. Leymah Gbowee mobilized thousands of women in Liberia in a nonviolent movement that helped end a brutal civil war and restore peace. Jody Williams led a global campaign to ban landmines, helping to save countless lives around the world.

These women remind us that advocacy, resilience, and collective action can create lasting change.

03/18/2026

I had the opportunity to attend a powerful CHCI session on AI and digital health, and one message came through clearly: innovation must always stay grounded in people.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare—from improving diagnostics to streamlining care delivery—but technology alone is not the goal. The real impact comes from how it enhances patient outcomes, strengthens trust, and supports clinicians in delivering more personalized, equitable care.

**Key takeaways:**
• Keep people at the center — AI should empower patients and providers, not replace human connection
• Transparency matters — patients deserve to know when and how AI is being used in their care
• Ask questions — don’t hesitate to ask your doctor if AI tools are part of your diagnosis or treatment plan
• Privacy is essential — policies must evolve to protect sensitive health data in an increasingly digital ecosystem
• Equity must be intentional — AI systems should be designed and evaluated to reduce, not reinforce, disparities

The future of digital health depends not just on what AI can do, but on how responsibly and inclusively we choose to use it.

03/17/2026

SWORDS into PLOWSHARES - Charlottesville: Saturday night, Kimberly Sescoe and Steve Brigham were proud to be part of the PUSH Studio Team presentation to the The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center's Swords into Plowshares: Recast | Reclaim initiative https://lnkd.in/eY6tydtC.

PUSH was one of three finalists (out of 32 teams) presenting last night to transform the material and meaning of the former Robert E. Lee statue (finally taken down in 2021) into a new representation of public memory.

All three public art/memorial proposals were outstanding. The public will get a chance to cast votes for their favorite proposal between now and early July. Read more about the Jefferson Center here - https://lnkd.in/eY6tydtC . Vinson Bert J. Hustvedt-Camacho, Jeffrey "Free" Harris Glenn LaRue Smith, FASLA