Project Summary

The United Neighbors Common Council (UNCommon Council) is an ongoing space for the community to connect, to dialogue, and to create lasting solutions through an innovative citizen-centered public deliberation framework developed and comprised of a cross-section of the community.

About me

I (Keith Herring) am from a family of activists. My father was self-educated and publisher of two community newspapers. He organized the "Old Syracusan's Picnic" which brought thousands together each summer for a day of culture, entertainment, food and community recognition. He insisted that all of his ten children participate as a way to fulfill our civic obligation which fueled my commitment to public service. I have worked in the public/nonprofit sectors for over 20 years. I am presently a professional firefighter with the Syracuse Fire Department; founding member and Secretary of F.O.R.C.E. As a graduate student and John Ben Snow Fellow at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, I helped to design and implement the Neighborhood Leadership Program of the CNYCommunity Foundation. The program enhanced the civic skills-set of grassroots leadership in the city and county. Participants received instruction in meeting facilitation, public speaking and presenting, grant-writing and proposal development in order to increase the organizational and leadership capacity of neighborhood groups. I am also a 2007 graduate of the Onondaga County Citizens Academy. I am committed to bringing about social change and equitable participation of the disenfranchised in the policymaking processes. This requires collaborative partnerships to create systems and institutions which address the root causes of social inequalities and social impact.