PWX 2019

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Shining a Light on the Legacy of Public Works (Room 618-619)

Throughout the country, the importance of Public Works is not perceived by many people. What does Public Works do on a daily basis? Why is Public Works important? Why do so many of my tax dollars go to Public Works? As a citizen, how can Public Works help me? As Public Works professionals, we know that Public Works plays a vital role in preserving the foundations upon which modern society is built, even if that work goes largely unnoticed by the public-at-large. Infrastructure that is constructed and maintained by Public Works allows communities to operate day-to-day and endure through time. Class XII (2019) of the APWA Emerging Leaders Academy believes that it is time to bring the legacy of public works out of the darkness and into the light, and we are providing a means to do so. We recognize the need to document current perceptions of public works, illuminate the critical role public works serves, and provide tools for public works professionals to (1) empower their teams to be advocates for the meaningful work they do within their communities, and (2) improve public knowledge and perception of the industry. The tools developed and assembled by the ELA Class XII can be used by public works professionals to shine a light on the exemplary members of our teams and tell the stories of the great work being done in the communities we serve. In doing so, we can empower our teams to be advocates of the industry, shining a light on the public works legacy now and in the future.