Good Government Book Club
Every few months, the Good Government Book Club (GGBC) meets to discuss topics not limited to government performance, equity, innovation, citizen engagement, education, and all-encompassing strategies for good government. The meetings are free and open to all City employees.
In this relaunch, GGBC is excited to announce that discussions will not only be centered around books, but will now include additional media such as podcasts, documentaries, and digital newspaper series.
The GGBC has been featured in Governing Magazine and also in the Baltimore Sun!
GGBC Upcoming Events!
February 21st: The “Urban Cipher” Game
Details: BYOLunch, enjoy GGBC with a twist! We will play the board game, Urban Cipher, created by Dr. Lawrence Brown. The game presents team players with the impacts of red-lining, systemic racism and housing challenges.
Discussion: Following the game, we will discuss how Dr. Lawrence’s game exposes the City of Baltimore’s systemic segregation, by design, as written in his book, The Black Butterfly.
Recommended Reading and Videos: The Black Butterfly by Dr. Lawrence T. Brown; Urban Cipher Game Overview, The Black Butterfly Project recommended videos.
Register: Sign up for the event via Eventbrite!
March 13th: Outcome Budgeting
Discussion: City on the Line, part memoir and manifesto, it departs from traditional budgeting into the world of outcome budgeting – where budgeting can influence better schools, stronger neighborhoods, and safer streets.
Recommended Reading: City on the Line by Andrew Kleine; ELGL interview with author, and book website.
Register: Sign up for the event via Eventbrite!
Previous Selections:
![]() | Fighting to Breathe: Race, Toxicity, and the Rise of Youth Activism in Baltimore Dr. Nicole Fabricant, Towson University Professor of Anthropology |
![]() | Leveraging Data within Local Government |
![]() | Mayor: The Best Job In Politics by the Honorable Michael A. Nutter |
![]() | The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein |
![]() | Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein |
![]() | Comeback Cities: A Blueprint For Urban Neighborhood Revival by Paul Grogan and Tony Proscio |
![]() | Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely |
![]() | Peak Performance by Brian Elms and J.B. Wogan |
![]() | Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek |
![]() | The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown |
![]() | A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger |
![]() | The Solution Revolution by William Eggers and Paul MacMillan |
![]() | The Ethics Of Dissent: Managing Guerrilla Government by Rosemary O’Leary |
![]() | Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink |
![]() | The Responsive City by Stephen Goldsmith & Susan Crawford |
![]() | The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge |
![]() | A Prayer For The City by Buzz Bissinger |
![]() | Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis |
![]() | The Human Side of Budgeting: Budget Games and How to End Them by Scott Lazenby |
![]() | Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life by Alan Deutschman |
![]() | Citizenville by Gavin Newsom /w Lisa Dickey |
![]() | Extreme Government Makeover by Ken Miller |
![]() | If We Can Put A Man On the Moon…Getting Big Things Done In Government by William Eggers and John O’Leary |
![]() | Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser |
![]() | Many Unhappy Returns: One Man’s Quest To Turn Around The Most Unpopular Organization in America by Charles O. Rossotti |
![]() | Trying Hard is Not Good Enough by Mark Friedman |
![]() | Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath |
![]() | The Ten Faces of Innovation: IDEO's Strategies for Defeating the Devil's Advocate and Driving Creativity Throughout Your Organization by Tom Kelley and Jonathan Littman |