Two City Staff Honored as 2024 Top Influencers in Local Government

City of Boulder staff members Ana Silvia Avendaño-Curiel and Ali Rhodes have been named two of this year’s "Top 100 Influencers in Local Government" by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL).

As the city’s Equity Policy Advisor, Ana Silvia Avendaño-Curiel has demonstrated a relentless commitment to centering historically excluded communities throughout her work to advance equity. She co-facilitates the city’s team of Community Connectors-in-Residence, stipend-based community leaders who partner with the city to build trust with historically excluded communities and who address barriers to community engagement, advance racial equity, design community-initiated programming, and elevate the issues and input of community members. She also co-designed the process to effectively seek input from communities in city decision-making.

Parks and Recreation Director Ali Rhodes is committed to ensuring everyone has equal access to the benefits of parks and recreation. Her leadership has been instrumental in the success of numerous initiatives, including centering equity in the department’s capital program, the expansion of access for all to recreation programs, and the implementation of sustainability practices. Throughout her career, Rhodes has fostered a passion for creating vibrant and welcoming parks and recreational spaces for the Boulder community. She has a proven track record of building strong relationships with diverse groups, including community members, government officials, and nonprofit organizations.

ELGL aims to amplify the good in local government and engage the brightest minds in municipal service. The "Top 100 Influencers in Local Government" list is an annual recognition program celebrating the service and contributions of leaders at all levels of local government.

For more information and a complete list of influencers recognized by ELGL, visit the ELGL website.