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It's Equity Month!
June is always a special month, celebrating Pride and Juneteenth! In fact, this month marks the fourth time Juneteenth will be celebrated as a federal holiday, providing everyone with a day of recognition for this special anniversary. (This publication provided a short history of Juneteenth in a 2023 edition; click here to view that information.)
Pride has been celebrated in communities across the country since 1970, the year after the Stonewall riots in New York City. For those not familiar, the Stonewall Inn was raided on June 28, 1969, which was a breaking point for the LGBTQ community. Riots lasted for almost a week after the raid and thousands of people came to the little-known inn in the Village to show their support and solidarity. Beginning in 1970, cities across the country commemorated the anniversary of that tragic event, becoming celebratory and growing in size and number throughout the decades since.
Pride and Juneteenth provide the public administration community with an important opportunity to show our dedication to our "third pillar" (as established by H. George Frederickson): social equity. As documented by Mary Guy and Sean McCandless, "When H. George Frederickson first coined the term, social equity had to do with the fairness of the organization, its management, and its delivery of public services. Now ensconced in the canon, the term’s meaning has broadened to encompass the policy formulation and rulemaking aspect as well as outcomes."
ASPA's leadership has appointed the first permanent board of directors for its H. George Frederickson Center for Social Equity (launched in 2020 and under the guidance of an advisory committee through 2023), which is advancing the center's work providing social equity with a dedicated space among ASPA's initiatives. From sharing social equity resources to tracking news and events across the field to planning for webinars and articles later this year, the board looks forward to housing ASPA's social equity work and dedicating a space to focus on the role of social equity across public administration.
You can find the board listed on ASPA's website; contact them to find out how you can get involved or share information and resources.
The Frederickson Center defines social equity as: the fair, just and equitable management of all institutions serving the public directly or by contract, and the fair and equitable distribution of public services, and implementation of public policy, and the commitment to promote fairness, justice, and equity in the formation of public policy. We hope all ASPA members will join the Center in its work to amplify social equity this month and beyond.
E-Learning at Your Fingertips
ASPA staff work tirelessly to keep your skills up to date and the information flowing all year long through our e-learning program. Visit our website to see more details about upcoming KeepingCurrent, BookTalk and Student and New Professional series programming.
KeepingCurrent: Celebrating PRIDE in Public Service and Addressing Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities
June 27 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Sponsored by ASPA's LGBT Advocacy Alliance and Section on Democracy and Social Justice
BookTalk: Technology and American Democracy
July 16 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Presenter:
Anthony Trotta, Author
Technology's growth and proliferation in American society continuously places new demands on the U.S. government and the health of its democracy, affecting both policymaking and public administration. The book discusses how technology available in the modern era can be used by the public sector to facilitate interactions associated with both e-government and e-governance, and that such efforts can expand the participatory frameworks available to citizens interested in engaging government through emergent innovative means. Technology and American Democracy explores the underpinning democratic theories, including constitutional justifications and competing political rationales, that may guide decisionmakers as they apply information technology in governance to promote democratic principles such as transparency and accountability. The book examines the importance that tenets of deliberative democracy are present to help guide responsive, adaptive U.S. government decisionmaking and correspondingly expands on the possible dangers that may arise with overreliance on a technocratic approach being used to guide the policy path of government.
BookTalk: The Overlooked Pillar
September 3 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Presenter:
Alisa Moldavanova, Associate Professor, University of Delaware
Offering an original perspective on the sustainable-development discourse by emphasizing the importance of culture and cultural institutions in facilitating societal sustainability goals, The Overlooked Pillar conceptualizes sustainability as an institutional logic that develops in organizations and is enacted by managers of such organizations who make decisions and engage in sustainable thinking on a daily basis, leading them to reconcile current organizational realities and the need to adapt to those realities with considerations of the needs of future generations. Drawing on more than five years of research conducted on a variety of organizations within the domain of the arts and humanities, Alisa Moldavanova provides a framework for organizational sustainability based on the dynamic interplay of two narratives—institutional resilience and institutional distinctiveness—and identifies mechanisms and strategies adopted by managers of cultural organizations that maintain and enhance intergenerational sustainability. The broader intellectual implication of the insights offered encompasses the critical notion that genuine long-term sustainability, the kind that secures the rights of future generations, requires sustainable stewardship today.
From the Archives
BookTalk: Human Resource Essentials for Public Service: People, Process, Performance
Tough issues face human resource managers. With the specter of Schedule F hanging over federal jobs, the time to understand why good government requires job protections is now. And there are no easy answers for the right blend of remote versus in-person work; or how employees can find meaningfulness in their jobs; or how to forestall workplace violence; or how to ensure equitable processes. Listen to this webinar via our online archives now. (Members only)
Calling All Authors: PA TIMES Online Needs Your Voice!
ASPA is seeking authors for PA TIMES Online for the second half of 2024. If you are reading the nuanced articles we publish through this website then you know our authors provide you and the entire public administration profession with new concepts, idea starters, thoughtful research updates and valued commentary. Take this opportunity to get involved.
We are looking for columnists who can write about a range of subjects. Topics include:
- Infrastructure and technology
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Emergency management
- Energy and the environment
- Budgeting
- Social equity
- Public finance measures
- Volunteerism
- Procurement and supply chain management
- Federalism
- Evidence based decisionmaking
- Public health
- Local government administration challenges
Open rotations are for monthly columns only. Applicants must commit to writing six columns during the remainder of 2024. (Publication deadlines will be provided by the PA TIMES Online editorial team.)
Interested in being considered? Submit an application, including a sample column, for review. First-time authors and students are welcome to apply!
All applications must be submitted by June 20, 2024 for consideration.
Public Integrity Editorial Team Announcement
Taylor & Francis and ASPA are delighted to announce that long-time Managing Editor Sue Neal has made the fast transition into the Editor-in-Chief role to finish Amanda Olejarski's term, ending June 30, 2025. Olejarski has left academia, moving on to new professional opportunities. Neal's many years of experience with the journal throughout Olejarski’s tenure and exceptionally steady hand make her the natural choice to fulfil this role.
While Neal continues on in the editor-in-chief role, PI, as is the case for all journals, is a team effort and benefits from a sound executive editorial team and the numerous individuals who serve on its editorial board. Thank you all for your ongoing service.
Congratulations to Sue Neal, and thanks to all as PI goes from strength to strength.
New Member Orientation Recording Available
ASPA held a New Member Orientation last month; the recording is available on our website for those who missed it. This hour-long tutorial covered:
- A brief history of ASPA and a look at who our members are and where you fit into the mix
- The member-exclusive resources you can access at any time
- An overview of the ASPA website so you know where everything lives
- Ways to network and get involved throughout the organization
- Chapter and Section highlights
- Upcoming webinars and other events on the calendar
Access the recording any time. We will hold our next live orientation toward the end of the year.
ASPA Members: Routledge Discounts Available!
Summer means starting reading lists and adding new books to your collection! If you find yourself interested in something from the Routledge catalog, remember that ASPA members receive a 30 percent discount off purchases.
Visit our website for more information about ASPA's partnership with Routledge and to access your code, useable when you check out from the Routledge site. And, remember to look at the ASPA book series, partnering with authors for all things "public administration." From HR to government performance to local government and beyond, the list of titles has something for everyone!
Happy reading!
Some Notes on Recent Immigration Policy Shifts
The United States is facing the highest migrant numbers it has seen in recent years. After Congress tried and failed to pass border security legislation, the Biden administration has enacted an executive order to close the border when unauthorized crossings exceed an average of 2,500 migrants for seven consecutive days. Under those circumstances, people detained attempting to cross the border undocumented won't be allowed to apply for an asylum claim and will be subject to expedited removal. (An unauthorized crossing refers to noncitizens who are apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol or determined to be inadmissible by the Office of Field Operations.)
The most recent bipartisan legislation Congress failed to pass "...would provide significantly more resources for border enforcement, make it harder to qualify for asylum in the United States and shut the border to most crossers during periods of high traffic," according to The Washington Post.
The Washington Post also reported, "U.S. border authorities lack detention space, deportation capacity and a sufficient number of asylum officers to uphold the basic U.S. legal obligations to prevent someone from being sent home to face torture, death or other grievous harm."
Will this executive order work? In short, it's a quick fix to a much bigger problem and will face legal challenges, similar to the Trump administration's asylum ban.
As quoted in Houston Public Media, according to Adam Issacson (Washington Office on Latin America), the administration is "trying to ... disincentivize irregular migration." Issacson goes on to say, "'I've counted at least 10 policies that have been put in place to try to push the numbers down, to try and deter people...Every single one of those policies does push the numbers down for a few months, and then they start to recover and come right back.'"
It deserves mentioning that immigrants are important to our country's fiscal well-being. We need more workers and there are jobs immigrants can fill. They also contribute to our economy, regularly producing more taxes than the money spent in providing benefits. The United States shuts out far more immigrants than fellow first-world countries, ranking 56th worldwide (the bottom third of wealthy countries).
However, communities across the country also need to be able to support those in immigrant and refugee communities. As discussed during a recent ASPA webinar featuring Saltanat Liebert and Grant Rissler (Virginia Commonwealth University, Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs), communities accepting the growing tide of immigrants need to provide better support for those who are here: health and medical services, language assistance, access to information and resources, to name just a few. (Watch the webinar in our archives here.)
This is a multi-faceted and controversial policy area. You can find some recent research via Public Administration Review and Public Integrity via the following links:
We will continue to follow this topic and provide updates as appropriate.
Miami-Dade County Seeking Registered Voters to Serve as Poll Workers in the Community
With the upcoming elections being so important this year, the Miami-Dade County Elections Department is looking to expand its team to serve voters on Election Day! If you know someone with great customer service skills who is interested in participating in the democratic process, encourage them to be a poll worker.
- Training is provided
- It’s a great way to work alongside neighbors to serve the community
- It’s a paid opportunity; and
- If a student, community service hours are provided!
Learn more about becoming a poll worker. Sign up today. It’s easy!
OMB-OIRA Wants to Hear from You!
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is looking to engage with more of the public about the rulemaking process. Federal regulations set the rules of the road that affect our lives in myriad ways—from providing access to affordable medicine to reducing children’s exposure to harmful toxins. A critical part of designing regulations that work is hearing from the public. Greater public participation leads to a more responsive and effective Federal Government that better addresses the needs of the American people. OMB's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is taking new steps to make it easier for interested members of the public to voice their views in the federal rulemaking process. As a part of this effort, OIRA is reaching out to educational institutions that teach undergraduate and graduate students about public policy and public administration to offer an exciting learning opportunity.
In a one-hour seminar this fall, OIRA will provide an overview demystifying their office and the federal rulemaking process, illustrate success with case studies of regulations that have been improved through public comment, provide tips on how to write an effective comment and answer your questions. OIRA is currently targeting the first round of engagement for fall semester 2024.
ASPA held a webinar on this topic last month. If you are interested in learning more from OIRA, please contact [email protected]. All formal requests for engagement will need to go through standard agency internal clearance process and availability cannot be confirmed until that process is complete.
Public Administration Today Highlight
Public Administration Today features white papers, research and blogs from across the profession. If you're interested in more—especially your own curated news feed in your inbox every week—visit the website, create an account and check off your interest areas so you can stay up to date about the latest research being released!
Local Governments Must Act Quickly to Navigate AI Disruption
Via StateTech Magazine: Extraordinary disruptions are coming to public and private sector jobs in the near future. Local government CIOs must prepare for the sweeping change to be brought by generative artificial intelligence.
Tips, Resources and the Fun Stuff
Should You Delay Your Morning Caffeine?
Some influencers say that doing so can offer benefits. [New York Times reporters] looked at the evidence.
In a Small Northwestern Minnesota Town, America's Divisiveness Meets Its match: Civil Debate
Recently, people in New York Mills, Minn., came together to debate free speech. (Spoiler alert: advocates for free speech won!)
In the News
Today's headlines contain plenty of news coverage of some of our nation's most pressing public administration challenges. ASPA has curated some of the most important stories from recent weeks. If you have not seen these yet, make sure you read them now!
Infrastructure
Public Finance
Public Service
Social Equity
Members in the News
OPINION: Survey Shows Burqueños Support City's Public Safety and Economic Initiatives
By Jennifer Frank Pontzer, Dr. Patria de Lancer Julnes and Kyle Stepp
Investing in Job Skills Pays Off
By Howard Risher
In Multilingual Central Florida, Hurricane and Flood Warnings Can Go Unheard
Featuring Claire Knox, University of Central Florida
Why Washington Can't Get Out of the Disaster Relief Business
By Don Kettl
What Exactly Does Make a Good Place to Work in the Government Anyhow?
An interview with Bob Tobias
Department of Defense CIO Resigns to Take University Post
John Sherman will become the new dean at the Bush School at Texas A&M University.
Bush-Era National Security Officials Warn against Schedule F
Including National Council District Representative Ron Sanders and ASPA member Sean O'Keefe.
More Cities Are Seeing Budget Gaps: Here’s What Not to Do
By Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene
Policy Pathways and VCU Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Co-Sponsor 2024 Summer Academy in Public Policy
Policy Pathways is an ASPA institutional member; VCU is a long-time ASPA sponsor and supporter.
Tell Me Something Good...
OK, maybe not "good," but inspiring and timely:
For Heroes of D-Day, This Reunion Might Be a "Last Hurrah"
It is 80 years since the Allied invasion of Normandy, and the average age of veterans hovers at 100. Once they are gone, how will their sacrifices be remembered? Eighty years after Allied armies invaded the beaches of Normandy, marking a definitive turning point in World War II, those veterans who are still alive and sound enough returned to France from the United States, Britain and Canada to commemorate the moment—gingerly, slowly, happily. They number less than 200. Their average age is about 100.
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Around Public Administration
Here are the most recent updates from across the profession. Did we miss you? Send us your news and we'll include it in the next round!
Upcoming Events:
Calls for proposals, calls for nominations and other updates:
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SECoPA Call for Proposals
The 2024 SECoPA will take place September 18-21 in Memphis at the University of Memphis. The theme will be "Transforming Public and Nonprofit Governance: Shaping Sustainable Communities for Tomorrow," highlighting the need for innovative approaches in designing, implementing and evaluating public and nonprofit programs to address the complex challenges of our rapidly changing world. It calls for the exploration of strategies that promote sustainable development, foster social and ecological well-being, and ensure effective governance for the benefit of present and future generations. The conference aims to encourage participants to share research, insights, and best practices that contribute to the transformation of public and nonprofit governance systems and the creation of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities. The deadline has been extended; all proposals are due June 21, 2024. Click here for more information.
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ABFM Awards Call for Nominations
The Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM) has opened its Call for Nominations for its annual awards program. Awards include the Curro Student Paper, Wildavsky, Howard, Posner, Best Book and Scholarly Engagement awards. All nominations are due June 28. Click here for more information.
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NECoPA Call for Proposals
The 2024 Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) will be NECoPA’s 15th year of bringing together scholars and practitioners from the northeast region, the United States and internationally. Taking place in person at Pace University in Manhattan, this year's theme is "Building a Flexible Public Service through Innovation and Collaboration." The concept recognizes the advancements in digital technology as well as the intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaborations in addressing wicked public service problems while advocating for and protecting our democracy. Topic areas include but are not limited to: innovation and technology in public service; financial management and budgeting; diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in public service; public service education; and performance management and program evaluation. Proposals will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. All proposals are due by August 19, 2024. Click here for more information.
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Call for Papers: Public Works Management and Policy
Public Works Management and Policy (PWMP) seeks novel manuscripts that connect core public administration theory (including policy and management) with modern challenges in the realm of public works. This includes relevant research from all subfields of public administration, including budgeting and finance, human resource management, performance management, policy change, policy analysis and so on, provided that it 1) connects to a core body of public administration or policy theory, and 2) is aligned substantively with the public works management focus of the journal. Recent developments in technology and governance lead to a broadening interpretation of public works management that includes traditional, novel and hybrid foci. For example, papers might examine core public management or policy challenges surrounding: transportation infrastructure, including: roads, bridges, ports, airports, rail, intermodal shipping, parks and recreation and others; utilities, including: water, sewer, waste management, telephone, cellular and internet availability and connectivity; economic development, including: industrial parks, urban redevelopment such as tax increment finance districts, or higher education capacity building; capital construction projects such as schools, libraries, prisons and jails, government offices and military installations. Each of these topics is germane to PWMP’s focus, and when addressing core conceptual questions, is welcome to be submitted for consideration. Articles we are especially interested in publishing are those that address salient and timely questions about current and emerging problems, those that examine new and innovative forms of infrastructure and their use, adaptations of existing infrastructure to new uses, and the integration of infrastructure with the softer side of government—how it is used and how it affects governance for the better or for the worse. Click here for more information.
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Book Announcement: Democracy's Hidden Heroes
Written by David Campbell (University of California, Davis), this release tells the story of the local public managers and nonprofit directors who work where bureaucratic hierarchies and community networks meet and often collide. These “hidden heroes” struggle to align universal rules and compliance demands with the unique circumstances facing their organizations and communities. Retailing for $24.95 via Temple Press, use promotion code POSP24 for a discount.
PA TIMES Online
Here's a selection of current pieces on PA TIMES Online, covering a range of issues within the profession. We accept individual articles on a rolling basis; if you have a piece you think would fit our publication, submit it to [email protected] for consideration. (Please review our submission guidelines in advance!)
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