North Raleigh Today

The City of Raleigh's Community Engagement team recently hosted a delegation of local government officials from the Republic of Kosovo at the Pathways Center. This visit was part of the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program, with the arrangement facilitated by a local community partnership, Meridian International Center.

The discussion centered around Raleigh's method of community engagement, emphasizing efforts to reach people where they are, reduce barriers to participation, and establish long-term trust with historically underrecognized communities.

The visiting officials reciprocated by sharing their strategies for engaging residents in their municipalities, discussing the hurdles they face in fostering participation, particularly in resource-limited settings. The conversation was a rich exchange of experiences and ideas, covering creative outreach tactics and lessons learned in public service.

The Kosovo delegation included professionals from various sectors of local government, such as urban planning, public relations, budgeting, and community affairs. Despite their diverse regions and language backgrounds, their collective dedication to meaningful public engagement was evident. The Community Engagement team appreciated the chance to connect, reflect, and learn jointly and wished the group continued success in implementing new ideas in their communities back in Kosovo.