Community Engagement Is Under Threat: What Can We Do About It?

In this powerful and timely episode, Becky Hirst connects with practitioner Josh Quintero from Lynchburg, Virginia, to explore what it’s like to work in community engagement in the United States in 2025 - six months into Donald Trump’s second term as President.With democracy under pressure and words like “diversity” and “inclusion” becoming politically fraught, Josh shares a raw, insightful, and deeply personal account of navigating community engagement in an increasingly polarised environment. From his Mexican-American heritage to his creative career pivot into local government, Josh speaks about the importance of helping people thrive, staying true to your values, and finding creative ways to keep engagement alive - especially when the rules of the game are rapidly shifting.This episode is full of goosebump moments, hopeful takeaways, and grounded strategies for staying resilient in challenging times. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world or unsure how to keep showing up for your community, this fireside chat is for you.🎵 Josh’s song pick: Once a Day by Michael Franti & SpearheadLet’s keep talking, listening, and engaging - even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.