The third installment of the Washington Forum will take place on March 31 at 6:00 p.m. at The Gathering Place, 425 S. Edgewood Road, Mount Vernon, according to a statement from the City of Mount Vernon OH.
The event, titled "The Room Where It Happens: How Government Really Works from City Hall to Capitol Hill," aims to provide attendees with a candid look into public service and governance. Organizers say the forum is designed to foster informed civic dialogue and give the community access to discussions about public service.
A panel of experienced public servants will participate in the discussion, including Athens Mayor and immediate Past President of the National League of Cities Steve Patterson, former U.S. Congressman Bob Gibbs, and former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. Mount Vernon Mayor Matthew T. Starr will moderate the conversation.
Panelists are expected to share firsthand experiences working in government and offer perspectives beyond headlines and political narratives. The discussion will focus on what public officials wish citizens better understood about their roles, how government functions in practice, and opportunities for improving institutions to better serve the public.
Attendees will have an opportunity to hear personal stories from inside decision-making processes and engage directly with panelists during a question-and-answer session. The Washington Forum is part of a yearlong civic series in partnership with Kenyon College’s Center for the Study of American Democracy.
The event is part of the City’s America 250 programming and is free and open to the public, according to the official roster page.
