Embedded Files
Hosted by Former Assemblywoman Inez Dickens.
Discover how everyday New Yorkers can shape their communities through informed civic action. Join us for honest conversations about democracy, justice, and the power of your voice.
Civic engagement is the engine that drives democracy forward. When individuals actively participate in decision-making, they gain the power to influence policies that affect their daily lives. Throughout history, engaged communities have been the catalyst for
momentous social progress.
From voting rights to environmental protection, communities that mobilize their collective voice create more equitable outcomes and responsive institutions.
Meet Your Host
Meet Your Host
Former New York State Assemblywoman & Harlem Community Leader
Former New York State Assemblywoman & Harlem Community Leader
With over two decades of public service representing Harlem in the New York State Assembly, Inez Dickens has been at the forefront of housing reform, education advocacy, and community empowerment.
With over two decades of public service representing Harlem in the New York State Assembly, Inez Dickens has been at the forefront of housing reform, education advocacy, and community empowerment.
"Democracy isn't a spectator sport. Every voice counts, and I'm here to show you how to make yours heard."
"Democracy isn't a spectator sport. Every voice counts, and I'm here to show you how to make yours heard."
Inez Dickens, a lifelong New Yorker born in 1949, began her political career in 1974 as a State Party Committeewoman, a role she held for 32 years. She was elected to the New York City Council in 2006, representing Central Harlem and parts of the Upper West Side, and became the first Black woman to hold several leadership positions.
Inez Dickens, a lifelong New Yorker born in 1949, began her political career in 1974 as a State Party Committeewoman, a role she held for 32 years. She was elected to the New York City Council in 2006, representing Central Harlem and parts of the Upper West Side, and became the first Black woman to hold several leadership positions.
Inez Dickens was elected to the State Assembly in 2016 and became Deputy Majority Whip in 2023. She retired in 2024 after helping push forward a 400,000-square-foot Harlem redevelopment project, including a civil rights museum and affordable housing.
Inez Dickens was elected to the State Assembly in 2016 and became Deputy Majority Whip in 2023. She retired in 2024 after helping push forward a 400,000-square-foot Harlem redevelopment project, including a civil rights museum and affordable housing.
Why Participation Matters
Why Participation Matters
Democracy requires active, informed citizens who participate in governance through voting, public discourse, and
Democracy requires active, informed citizens who participate in governance through voting, public discourse, and
community involvement.
community involvement.
Higher civic engagement builds resilient communities with stronger social bonds and better public services.
Higher civic engagement builds resilient communities with stronger social bonds and better public services.
Local volunteering, organizing, and advocacy directly shape neighborhood quality of life and policy outcomes.
Local volunteering, organizing, and advocacy directly shape neighborhood quality of life and policy outcomes.
Watch The Truth to Power Series on NYC For Youth Youtube Channel
Watch The Truth to Power Series on NYC For Youth Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@NYCForYouth
https://www.youtube.com/@NYCForYouth
Rank Choice Voting
Rank Choice Voting
Episode 1: Understanding Ranked-Choice Voting
Episode 1: Understanding Ranked-Choice Voting
Why ranked-choice voting matters for NYC communities
Why ranked-choice voting matters for NYC communities
History of ranked-choice voting in NYC: what led to it and how it works
History of ranked-choice voting in NYC: what led to it and how it works
How ranked-choice voting impacts local races (City Council, Assembly)
How ranked-choice voting impacts local races (City Council, Assembly)
The potential pitfalls and confusion among voters
The potential pitfalls and confusion among voters
Episode 2: Rank Choice Voting Don't Waste Your Vote
Episode 2: Rank Choice Voting Don't Waste Your Vote
Don't lose your vote. Why you should rank more than one candidate.
Don't lose your vote. Why you should rank more than one candidate.
How to vote smarter with ranked-choice
How to vote smarter with ranked-choice
Rank Choice Voting Epsiode 1
Rank Choice Voting Epsiode 1
Rank choice Voting Epsiode 2
Rank choice Voting Epsiode 2
The Black Ballot: Harlem's Civic Legacy
The Black Ballot: Harlem's Civic Legacy
The fight for the vote in Harlem.
The fight for the vote in Harlem.
Charles Rangel and Colin Powell: political pioneers.
Charles Rangel and Colin Powell: political pioneers.
Church organizing and civic leadership.
Church organizing and civic leadership.
Civil rights legacy and modern voter suppression.
Civil rights legacy and modern voter suppression.
Black political clubs and activism
Black political clubs and activism
How to build on Harlem's legacy
How to build on Harlem's legacy
The Judiciary
The Judiciary
How are Judges selected?
How are Judges selected?
How are Judges Appointed or Elected
How are Judges Appointed or Elected
What courts are Judges Appointed or Elected to?
What courts are Judges Appointed or Elected to?
The important of Judicial Delegates?
The important of Judicial Delegates?
How are Delegates chosen?
How are Delegates chosen?
Why jury service matters.
Why jury service matters.
How juries are selected in NYC.
How juries are selected in NYC.
The Westchester connection in federal cases
The Westchester connection in federal cases
Jury diversity: why it's essential.
Jury diversity: why it's essential.
Avoiding civic burnout.
Avoiding civic burnout.
Inez Dickens on justice reform and accountability.
Inez Dickens on justice reform and accountability.
Understanding Government
Understanding Government
Know the Seats: The People Who Represent You
Know the Seats: The People Who Represent You
It is vital to understand the roles and responsibilities of each elected official as they represent the different branches and levels of government that collectively determine the laws you follow and the services you receive.
It is vital to understand the roles and responsibilities of each elected official as they represent the different branches and levels of government that collectively determine the laws you follow and the services you receive.
Congress vs. City Council
Congress vs. City Council
Assembly vs. State Senate
Assembly vs. State Senate
Judges and District Attorneys
Judges and District Attorneys
What each office controls
What each office controls
How these roles affect daily life
How these roles affect daily life
Case example: The Harlem District Attorney's influence
Case example: The Harlem District Attorney's influence
The Board Room: Inside NYC Community Boards
The Board Room: Inside NYC Community Boards
The primary role of a Community Board is to advise and make recommendations to the City government on local needs and issues across three key areas: Land Use and Zoning (Advisory Power), City Budget Process (Local Priorities), and
Service Delivery and Quality of Life (Advocacy)
The primary role of a Community Board is to advise and make recommendations to the City government on local needs and issues across three key areas: Land Use and Zoning (Advisory Power), City Budget Process (Local Priorities), and
Service Delivery and Quality of Life (Advocacy)
What is a community board?
What is a community board?
How members are chosen?
How members are chosen?
What power do boards actually have?
What power do boards actually have?
Inez's role in community board reform.
Inez's role in community board reform.
How to get involved.
How to get involved.
How to influence decisions without being on the board.
How to influence decisions without being on the board.
What is a City Charter?
What is a City Charter?
The City Charter the primary legal document that defines the organization, powers, functions, and essential procedures of the city government. It overrides local laws but is subject to New York State law and the US Constitution.
The City Charter the primary legal document that defines the organization, powers, functions, and essential procedures of the city government. It overrides local laws but is subject to New York State law and the US Constitution.
What's a city charter?
What's a city charter?
Who really controls city budget decisions
Who really controls city budget decisions
How bills become local laws
How bills become local laws
NYC's power map: who reports to who
NYC's power map: who reports to who
Oversight & accountability (IGs, COIB, etc.)
Oversight & accountability (IGs, COIB, etc.)
Real-world wins: Inez on community-led policy shifts
Real-world wins: Inez on community-led policy shifts
The Civic Toolbox
The Civic Toolbox
Volunteerism & Representation"
Volunteerism & Representation"
Why volunteer roles matter in politics.
Why volunteer roles matter in politics.
Getting young people into leadership.
Getting young people into leadership.
How to ensure Black and Brown voices are heard.
How to ensure Black and Brown voices are heard.
Inez's tips on mobilizing community volunteers.
Inez's tips on mobilizing community volunteers.
The politics of appointment.
The politics of appointment.
Balancing volunteer roles with paid political work.
Balancing volunteer roles with paid political work.
So You Want to Run for Office?
So You Want to Run for Office?
Where to start: eligibility & resources
Where to start: eligibility & resources
Community roots and credibility
Community roots and credibility
Fundraising and endorsements
Fundraising and endorsements
Filing and campaigning 101
Filing and campaigning 101
Inez Dickens journey to office
Inez Dickens journey to office
Common myths and roadblocks
Common myths and roadblocks
The Politics of Real Estate
The Politics of Real Estate
Affordable for Who?"
Affordable for Who?"
What is Area Median Income (AMI)?
What is Area Median Income (AMI)?
How AMI affects Harlem housing.
How AMI affects Harlem housing.
The federal/local housing policy link.
The federal/local housing policy link.
Inclusionary zoning and displacement.
Inclusionary zoning and displacement.
Development deals: the good and the bad.
Development deals: the good and the bad.
Inez Dickens on negotiating community benefits
Inez Dickens on negotiating community benefits
When Politics Meets Real Estate
When Politics Meets Real Estate
Developers vs. residents: the tug-of-war.
Developers vs. residents: the tug-of-war.
What role does city council play in land use?
What role does city council play in land use?
How ULURP works.
How ULURP works.
The Harlem rezoning battle .
The Harlem rezoning battle .
Inez's housing deal playbook.
Inez's housing deal playbook.
Empowering tenants through legislation.
Empowering tenants through legislation.
Passing the Torch Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
Passing the Torch Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
The Power Next Door: Civic Leadership for the Next Gen
The Power Next Door: Civic Leadership for the Next Gen
Mentoring new civic leaders.
Mentoring new civic leaders.
Passing the baton: lessons from Harlem elders 3. Schools as civic training grounds.
Passing the baton: lessons from Harlem elders 3. Schools as civic training grounds.
Why unions matter in politics.
Why unions matter in politics.
Building coalitions across generations.
Building coalitions across generations.
Final reflections from Inez Dickens
Final reflections from Inez Dickens
Join In: Shape the Future of NYC
Join In: Shape the Future of NYC
Every action whether voting, volunteering, or speaking up helps strengthen your city. Together, we can ensure NYC's future
reflects the true voices of all its people. Your participation matters more than you know.
🟦Speak Up
🟦Speak Up
Share your perspective at public forums
🟦Volunteer
🟦Volunteer
Donate your time to community causes
🟦Connect
🟦Connect
Build relationships with neighbors
Civic Engagement Podcast Series
Civic Engagement Podcast Series
Presented by NYC for Youth in collaboration with MNN Manhattan Neighborhood Network.
Presented by NYC for Youth in collaboration with MNN Manhattan Neighborhood Network.
The Podcasts are hosted by Former Assemblywoman Inez Dickens and are for educational purposes only.
The Podcasts are hosted by Former Assemblywoman Inez Dickens and are for educational purposes only.
Tune in to hear diverse voices discuss how community participation shapes our city's future.
Tune in to hear diverse voices discuss how community participation shapes our city's future.
When and Where to Listen
When and Where to Listen
The podcasts will be broadcast on the MNN channel and are also available on NYC For Youth YouTube channel. Check local listings for specific
air times and subscription options.
Topics and Guests
Topics and Guests
Each episode features youth activists, community leaders, and policy experts discussing various aspects of civic
engagement in New York City's unique environment
These podcast on civil engagement are for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the hosts and guests and are not intended as professional advice (legal, political, or otherwise). Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content discussed.
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