On December 4, the CU Denver School of Public Affairs hosted its First Friday event centered around how governments are changing to meet the needs of our time, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comprised of experts from state, city, and county governments in Colorado, the panel took a deep dive into the pivots that organizations have made during the tumultuous year of 2020, what processes would continue, and their hopes for the future. 

The event was moderated by Lisa VanRaemdonck, Executive Director of the CU Denver School of Public Affairs Institute, and she was joined by Angelo Fernandez, Deputy County Manager of Eagle County; Karen Palus, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director for the City of Colorado Springs; and Julia Richman, Chief Strategy Officer for the Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology. 

The panel discussed their organizations’ major pivots since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and how they adapted, agreeing that the pandemic exposed gaps within their organizations and necessitated innovation in order to bridge the gaps. Communication, leveraging technology, and taking care of employees were key to their organizations’ successes.

A specific example of a pivot was the City of Colorado Springs’ implementation of a homeless isolation center, according to Palus. Fernandez cited the discovery of language justice and the need to make marketing more equitable for Eagle County residents. Richman touched on digital access and digital equity issues for employees and for those seeking the services of her organization.

The discussion closed with a look toward the future at what practices the panel hopes will continue beyond the pandemic: changes in communication strategy, community engagement, and sustainable innovation and collaboration.