This book is for public leaders — city managers, superintendents, elected officials, hospital management, and community/nonprofit leaders — who want to build public support through civil, productive dialogue with their constituents.
“Great job putting together such a comprehensive book focused on community engagement. There is so much good stuff here … I want to share this with my staff.”
Katherine Keough-Jurs, FAICP, Directory of Planning and Engagement, City of Cincinnati “Humanizing Public Conversation is a significant contribution to illustrating how citizens can share their concerns and influence decisions about issues that confront them in their communities. Jeffrey Stec provides many concrete examples of how this can be done. Community engagement of this sort is very important in efforts to strengthen our democratic system. PURCHASE THIS BOOK AND READ IT!”
William V. Muse, PhDFormer President, Auburn University & National Issues Forum“Stec's book is a powerful call to transform how local communities address their most pressing issues. He brilliantly redefines local leaders as conveners and facilitators of connection, trust, and collaboration across diverse groups. Packed with real-world examples and practical insights, Stec doesn’t just talk theory - he gives you tools you can use right away. This book illuminates exciting possibilities for what we can achieve when we come together with purpose and commitment.”
Amy MervakExecutive Coach and FacilitatorHolding Resonant Space for Transformation