This Week's Speaker - Doug Linkhart

Doug Linkhart became President of the National Civic League in December 2015. Before joining the National Civic League, Linkhart served as a member of Mayor Michael B. Hancock's cabinet, heading up the City and County of Denver's Department of Environmental Health, an agency with 210 employees. During Linkhart's tenure, his department reformed many of its regulatory programs to focus on prevention and education, initiated a sustainable neighborhoods program, helped tens of thousands of residents obtain health insurance and developed new healthy food options in low-income neighborhoods.

As a Denver City Councilman At-Large (2003-2011), Linkhart initiated the creation of the Crime Prevention Control Commission, an Economic Prosperity Plan and citywide master plans for youth and older residents. He also served as President of the Colorado Municipal League and as a member of the National League of Cities Community and Economic Development Committee and Council on Youth, Education and Families.

Linkhart served ten years in the Colorado State Legislature, two years as a State Representative and eight years as a State Senator, during which he served a diverse area with a large low-income population. He was founder and executive director of the Neighborhood Resource Center of Colorado, a nonprofit organization that strengthened neighborhoods through block organizing and community policing.

Founded in 1894, the National Civic League is a nonprofit organization that promotes civic engagement and community-based planning and decision-making. NCL's annual All-America City Awards are given to ten communities each year for outstanding civic accomplishments. It also publishes the Model City Charter, a blueprint for local government structure used by thousands of cities across the country and the quarterly National Civic Review.