Raleigh residents looking for something to do this weekend have a civic option on the table: the Engage Raleigh Expo rolls into the capital city Saturday, Sept. 26, promising 90 exhibitors, a Raleigh Neighborhood Exchange and three workshops built around the theme of community in a digital age.
The city detailed those numbers in a new episode of its own podcast, Your City, Answered, which the City of Raleigh
promoted this week by posting the question driving the episode: “Why should I attend the Engage Raleigh Expo on Sept. 26?” The city's post teased the same headline figures, saying attendees can expect “90 exhibitors, three workshops, and more.”
The episode itself, available through Apple Podcasts, features Community Engagement Analyst Lance Shinholser previewing the expo in detail. The show describes the lineup as featuring 90 exhibitors, the Raleigh Neighborhood Exchange, and three workshops, giving residents their first real preview of what the day will hold.
What the Podcast Reveals — and What It Doesn't
Your City, Answered bills itself as the city's quick, question-and-answer-style podcast, tackling community topics in bite-sized episodes. It's hosted by Ran Northam and Katie Dombrowski, and per the same podcast listing, new episodes are available wherever people get their podcasts.
Beyond the exhibitor count and the three planned workshops, the episode doesn't spell out the specific workshop topics, the exact schedule, or where within Raleigh the expo will take place. Details on cost, hours or how the Raleigh Neighborhood Exchange will actually run also weren't part of what the city shared in its preview.
A City-Driven Push for Civic Engagement
The expo push fits into Raleigh's broader habit of using its own channels — from the podcast to social media — to get residents plugged into local government and community programs. Shinholser's appearance on the show suggests city staff are treating the event as a chance to explain, in plain terms, why showing up on a Saturday to browse exhibitor tables might be worth residents' time.
For now, the confirmed details are straightforward: Saturday marks the date, 90 exhibitors are expected, the Raleigh Neighborhood Exchange is on the agenda, and three workshops centered on community in a digital age round out the day. Residents wanting the fuller pitch straight from city staff can find the conversation on Your City, Answered.
