Taking risks split leap stock photo from Ronnie Chua/Shutterstock.

How government agencies take better risks in order to innovate and meet future needs? Many factors lead government agencies to be risk-averse: public input tends to focus on complaints, elected officials criticize actions which upset some residents, and hiring and procurement policies create obstacles to taking action.

However, government officials want to actively make their communities better, and meeting the needs of residents requires pushing against this inertia. Innovative thinking and smart risk-taking can pay huge dividends for communities looking to grow with equity and sustainability, and successful leaders have found ways to build a positive culture around risk.

Attend our upcoming GGWash “fireside chat” (sponsored by Nelson/Nygaard) featiuring Jeff Tumlin and George Hawkins, moderated by Harriet Tregoning, on Friday December 14 at 12 noon at WeWork 80 M St SE. Tickets are only $10 (lunch provided), or the low low price of free if you're a GGWash Neighborhood member. Join the GGWash Neighborhood today!

Other events from around the region:

Tuesday, November 27

Take Spin for a scoot: Mark the arrival of Spin electric scooters in DC by attending a panel discussion at 6 pm at the Loft at 600 F (600 F St NW) on enhancing mobility in DC, focusing on safety, equity, and partnerships. Recently acquired by Ford, Spin will be joining Bird, Skip, Lime, and Lyft scooters in the DC market. Join transportation advocates, the media, consumer safety experts, community leaders, policymakers, and a diversity of perspectives (on a panel moderated by our own GGWash founder, David Alpert) to engage in an open conversation about how scooters can help advance a thriving transportation network in DC. RSVP to attend here!

Thursday, November 29

Check in on the Long Bridge project: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) invite the public to an informational meeting to present the Preferred Alternative for the Long Bridge Project, consisting of potential improvements to the bridge corridor and related railroad infrastructure located between the RO Interlocking near Long Bridge Park in Arlington, Virginia and the L’Enfant Interlocking near 10th Street SW in Washington, DC. Join the open house anytime from 4 pm to 7 pm at the DCRA Building's Room E200 (1100 4th Street SW), and catch one of their formal presentations at either 4:30 pm or 6 pm. Find more information here.

Consider equitable and inclusive housing policy: At 5 pm at the CenterStage at Reston Community Center Hunter Woods (2310 Colts Neck Rd, Reston, VA), hear remarks by Dr. Richard Rothstein, author of Color of Law: The Forgotten History of How our Government Segregated America, regarding how housing policy affects the ability of Northern Virginia communities to become equitable and inclusive for all of our citizens. Following Dr. Rothstein's remarks, there will be an interactive panel discussion with local community experts about the future of Northern Virginia. Cornerstones and Reston Community Center invite you to engage with neighbors and friends for an evening of enlightening conversation and light refreshments. RSVP to attend here!

Reform Arlington's Residential Parking Permit program: On-street parking is a valuable, often-limited community asset that must be managed for the greatest public benefit. For the first time in over a decade, Arlington County is conducting an extensive review of the purpose and function of its Residential Permit Parking (RPP) Program, seeking ways to improve the user experience, efficiency in its administration and fairness.   The County recently collected general feedback on parking online from more than 1,600 residents and stakeholders and is now kicking off an in-person phase of engagement to present what they heard and begin more in-depth conversations about what works and does not work with the RPP Program as it is today. Join the public forum at 6 pm at the Aurora Hills Community & Senior Center (735 18th St S, Arlington, VA). As with parking itself, space is limited – so reserve a spot today.

Friday, November 30

Learn how to learn about urban leadership and entrepreneurship: The University of the District of Columbia will host a live webinar for its new doctoral program, the Ph.D. Program in Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship, from 1 to 2 pm. This program seeks to prepare students for successful careers in research, academia, and industry by offering a balance between rigorous research and real-world application to develop the next generation of leaders to address urban challenges. Educate yourself about this opportunity here!

Check out more urbanist events at ggwash.org/calendar. Do you have an event you'd like to see featured in the weekly events post? Submit it here.