{"id":304,"date":"2026-04-03T14:14:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:14:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.phonelive.io\/?p=304"},"modified":"2026-04-06T08:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T13:52:10","slug":"gfg_ep48","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phonelive.io\/blog\/gfg_ep48\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Storytelling in Civic Engagement (with Sam Toles) | Ground Floor Government Ep. 48"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this conversation, Sam Toles discusses the critical role of communication in local government and civic engagement. He shares his unique career journey from Hollywood to local government, emphasizing the importance of social media in connecting with communities. Toles highlights the challenges local governments face in communication, particularly the negativity associated with platforms like Facebook. He advocates for storytelling as a powerful tool to engage the community and improve perceptions of public service roles. Toles also provides insights on how local governments can effectively use social media to share their narratives and connect with younger audiences. In this conversation, Sam Toles discusses the importance of effective communication in local government, emphasizing the need for storytelling to engage the community and rebuild trust. He shares strategies for transforming budget narratives into relatable stories, harnessing community stories to foster connection, and empowering new voices in local government through social media. Toles highlights the critical role of trust in democracy and the potential of local government to serve as a trusted source of information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Communications is crucial in local government roles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Impact can be made from outside city offices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. A career in media can lead to public service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Social media literacy is essential for local governments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Video content is more engaging than text-based communication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Local governments need to showcase their employees’ stories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Young people are unaware of public service career opportunities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Positive storytelling can change community perceptions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Social media can help pass local measures and initiatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Creativity in communication can enhance public engagement. Transforming budget narratives can make financial information relatable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Community stories are essential for engagement and connection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Local government has a unique opportunity to rebuild trust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Effective communication can empower new voices in local government.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Social media is a powerful tool for community engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    In this conversation, Sam Toles discusses the critical role of communication in local government and civic engagement. He shares his unique career journey from Hollywood to local government, emphasizing the importance of social media in connecting with communities. Toles highlights the challenges local governments face in communication, particularly the negativity associated with platforms like Facebook. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[36],"class_list":["post-304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technolgies","tag-audiopodcast"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Power of Storytelling in Civic Engagement (with Sam Toles) | Ground Floor Government Ep. 48 | PhoneLive Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sam Toles discusses the critical role of communication in local government and civic engagement. He shares his unique career journey from Hollywood to local government, emphasizing the importance of social media in connecting with communities. Toles highlights the challenges local governments face in communication, particularly the negativity associated with platforms like Facebook. He advocates for storytelling as a powerful tool to engage the community and improve perceptions of public service roles. Toles also provides insights on how local governments can effectively use social media to share their narratives and connect with younger audiences. In this conversation, Sam Toles discusses the importance of effective communication in local government, emphasizing the need for storytelling to engage the community and rebuild trust. He shares strategies for transforming budget narratives into relatable stories, harnessing community stories to foster connection, and empowering new voices in local government through social media. 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