The City of Englewood is a finalist in the 2025 All-America City Award run, scratching the surface of national recognition for community-oriented solutions to pressing local issues. The National Civic League's decision to place Englewood among the top contenders acknowledges the strides that the municipality has made toward greater environmental sustainability, a pursuit that has seen broad spectrums of society coming together. According to the City of Englewood, Englewood's bid to claim the award rests on a tripartite foundation of increasing accessibility to sustainability programs, strengthening ties with diverse stakeholders like nonprofits and educational institutions, and revamping transportation options to be safer and better interconnected.
Englewood Mayor Othoniel Sierra, as obtained by the City of Englewood, praised the collective spirit of the city's efforts, saying, "These are the kinds of efforts that bring a city together. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, and it’s even more meaningful knowing that it came from people working side by side to improve our community." This endeavor to be more inclusive saw city staff, working with residents in various localities, including mobile home parks, learning intimately about the energy necessities and the vulnerabilities they face to climate change.
The emphasis on inclusivity and active participation is reflected in the newly implemented Sustainable Business Partnership program, boasting a collaboration with 33 local businesses. Englewood has been proactive in workshops geared towards climate resiliency, which notably featured over 30 participants seeking to uncover community-driven solutions. "We're working to make sure everyone has a chance to help shape the future of our city," said Mel Englund, Sustainability Program Manager, as per City of Englewood, emphasizing their approach of building programs based on the community’s direct feedback and empowering legitimate citizen leadership.
Doug Linkhart, President of the National Civic League, weighed in on the importance of diverse participation while commending this year's finalists. "Communities thrive when all residents have a voice in the policies and decisions that shape their lives," Linkhart said, as noted by the City of Englewood, highlighting in the statement provided by the National Civic League that the finalists stand out for their efforts to remove barriers to engagement and develop programs enhancing sustainability, resilience, and inclusive participation.
