Photo Courtesy of Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office
“We are committed to ensuring that New Yorkers have the tools they need to better engage with government and access its benefits, but to also do it in a more streamlined, simple-to-use manner,” Mayor Adams said.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday took efforts to streamline the city’s civic engagement efforts by establishing the city’s first-ever Office of Engagement and appointing Betsy MacLean as its chief engagement officer. The chief engagement officer will ensure that the city coordinates community engagement efforts across agencies, systematically learns from communities to inform policy and programs, builds the capacity of all city agency outreach and engagement teams, and advances community-driven solutions. In addition to leading the Office of Engagement, MacLean will oversee the city’s primary engagement offices: the Community Affairs Unit (CAU), the Civic Engagement Commission (CEC), the Public Engagement Unit (PEU), and NYC Service.
“Community engagement is a core pillar of this administration. We are committed to ensuring that New Yorkers have the tools they need to better engage with government and access its benefits, but to also do it in a more streamlined, simple-to-use manner,” Adams said. “The newly created Office of Engagement will ensure that we continue to collaborate, coordinate, and prioritize engagement across all agencies and that New Yorkers have a say in our policies, priorities, and resources. There is no better person to lead this effort than Betsy MacLean. Betsy chaired our Civic Engagement Committee during the transition and has had a groundbreaking career in community development for over 20 years. Once again, I have an all-star team of five women leading the charge with Betsy, Sarah, Laura, Adrienne, and Kathleen, and working alongside Fred Kreizman at CAU — all heading up our city’s engagement efforts. Together, we will continue to ‘Get Stuff Done’ and engage New Yorkers in new and creative ways.”
To maximize the opportunities for New Yorkers to work hand-in-hand with government, Mayor Adams also made these key appointments and reappointments:
- Kathleen Daniel, chief democracy officer, CEC
- Adrienne Lever, executive director, PEU
- Laura Rog, NYC chief service officer, NYC Service
- Dr. Sarah Sayeed, chair and executive director, CEC
These five appointments/reappointments will work hand-in-hand with CAU Commissioner Fred Kreizman.
“I believe that democracy is a team sport,” said New York City Chief Engagement Officer Betsy MacLean. “I’m grateful to the mayor for the opportunity to work together with city agencies, community-based organizations, small businesses, and New Yorkers themselves to create the kind of civic infrastructure that will enable every New Yorker to have a say in all of the systems that shape our lives — from housing to jobs, schools to transportation, health care to parks. From my decades of experience working with residents throughout our city and beyond, I know that community engagement is not a photo op or a box to check; it is deep partnership, consensus building, power sharing, and paradigm shifting. And when we do it right, this kind of inclusive democracy builds community power, brings us closer together, and results in better policies and better outcomes. What a thrill to work alongside these inspired engagement leaders to expand our definition of civic engagement beyond elections, increase opportunities for government to work together with communities and amplify the voices of our neighbors.”
