In communities across the United States, local governments are increasingly turning to neighborhood or city ambassador programs as a means of deepening civic engagement, promoting social connection, and building trust between residents and city officials.  These ambassador models vary in their approach, but at their heart is a common goal: to empower everyday citizens as liaisons between the city and its neighborhoods.  Three such programs—in North Liberty, Iowa; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and Springfield, Missouri—offer valuable insight into the benefits and possibilities of this kind of initiative. North Liberty, Iowa: From Crisis Response to Community Champions North Liberty’s Neighborhood Ambassador Program was born in the summer of 2020 in response to pandemic-related cancellations, including their popular Blues & Barbecue festival. The city issued a call to residents, asking for volunteers to serve as ambassadors for each neighborhood, using existing boundaries establishe...