Events: A fireside chat about how governments can take better risks

'Tis the season to dispel the dark wintry cold by joining GGWash for a “fireside chat,” stoking courage in government officials who want to actively make their communities better. Many factors lead government agencies to be risk-averse: public input tends to focus on complaints, elected officials criticize actions that upset some residents, and hiring and procurement policies create obstacles to taking action. But 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.

Come hear perspectives from Jeff Tumlin and George Hawkins, moderated by Harriet Tregoning, this 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:

Monday, December 10

See built environments as our values made concrete: Visit the National Building Museum (401 F St NW) at 6:30 pm to hear author Sarah Williams Goldhagen discuss “how recent advances in neuroscience and environmental psychology prove there are no neutral built environments—but, rather, ones that either positively or negatively impact daily lives. She argues that new understanding of human perception and cognition makes it urgent that we completely re-conceptualize the role of built environment design in everyday life as an issue of social justice and public health.” Goldhagen will be signing her book, Welcome to Your World, after the talk. Tickets are $12 for members, $10 for students, and $20 for nonmembers; you can learn more here.

Wednesday, December 12

Light up your ride: Meet up with WABA at 6:30 pm at the Archives Metro (701 Pennsylvania Ave NW). WABA says, “It's beginning to look a lot like…well, darkness, actually. Between daylight savings and the fast-approaching longest night of the year, it's a whole lot darker out there. Join us for a ride that celebrates the light! We'll show off our best bike lighting, check out holiday light displays, and do our best to brighten up the city.” Register and pay the $10 cost of the ride here.

Saturday, December 15

Deck your hall with the local economy: Check out Appointed (1500 Okie St NE) from 11 am to 4 pm to enjoy a “one-day holiday pop-up with shopping, holiday treats, complimentary gift-wrapping, and holiday festivities! Appointed will be hosting a one-stop holiday shopping destination at their office + production space in Ivy City. This event will feature DC vendors, wreath-making workshops, cookie decorating, and a family-friendly festive atmosphere.” Find more information here.

Sunday, December 16

Party like it's 1968: Jump in a time machine at the National Building Museum (401 F St NW) from 1 to 4 pm to “[c]lose out the 50th anniversary of this historic year with talks and activities presented by the 1968/2018 Collaborative, a group of organizations and people engaged in programming related to DC in 1968 throughout the year. At 2 pm, hear from featured speaker Phil Portlock, photographer, writer, documentary producer, social justice activist, historian, and native Washingtonian.” Learn more about this free event 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.