La Mesa Councilmember Colin Parent has been selected as one of 16 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of state and local elected officials with Honorary Co-Chairs U.S. Senator Chris Coons, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, and Columbia, SC Mayor Steve Benjamin.
Members of the network have been chosen from more than 1,800 nominations over NewDEAL’s 12 years, and are united by their work to enact pro-growth progressive solutions across their diverse array of communities.
Parent joins the group at a time when state and local leaders are on the frontlines of responding to simultaneous crises caused by COVID-19, climate change, racial inequities, and threats to democracy. At a moment when unprecedented federal resources are flowing to states, counties, and cities from the American Rescue Plan, bipartisan infrastructure law, and Inflation Reduction Act, NewDEALers are supporting each other in thinking big and sharing model policies and programs, including through in-person and virtual convening.
In one effort, NewDEAL has released two reports this year featuring case studies on how to use ARP funding to solve inequitable access to housing, child care, broadband, small business capital, and workforce training. NewDEAL Leaders’ work also has contributed to reports of policy recommendations on education, climate change, broadband, and the future of work.
NewDEALers’ next major convening will take place at the 12th annual Leaders Conference, Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 in Washington, D.C., where about 80 members will join other innovators from the public and private sectors to discuss a forward-looking agenda for state and local Democrats in the wake of the midterms to address the biggest challenges facing the country, including the future of work and education, climate change, and threats to democracy.
Parent was selected to join NewDEAL because of his dedication to issues like public transit, housing affordability and engaging more people in public service.
Parent is a strong advocate for transportation systems that work for everyone, and effective land use decisions that put affordability first. Parent also co-founded the San Diego Leadership Alliance, an organization that trains young people to be equipped for civic leadership.
“We are in a vitally important moment for state and local leaders to channel transformational levels of federal aid to La Mesa,” said Parent. “I look forward to sharing lessons with and learning from other leaders who are setting the standard for effective governance, and I am excited to be part of NewDEAL’s efforts to expand opportunities for Americans in communities nationwide.”
