Member Focus: Matthew Slaats & Miles Hopkins

Did you know some of the folks hard at work to make Richmond a better city for all can be found right here on the second floor, co-working? We recently caught up with Richmond City Council's Senior Civic Innovation Manager, Matthew Slaats, and Digital Communications Specialist, Miles Hopkins, to see what's on the horizon for the River City.

As Senior Civic Innovation Manager, Matthew supports and creates new ways for residents of the city to be in conversation, have their voices heard, and build trust with local government.  Together with Miles, Leidiana Delgado, a Commission of Residents, and the support of City Council, Matthew has been spearheading the Richmond People's Budget. This initiative is committed to create a participatory budgeting process that will give residents a greater say in how a part of the City Budget is spent.

For a bit of background, in 2022, a commission of residents came together to design this process which gives residents of the city a say in how $3 million dollars of the 2025-2026 budget is invested in their neighborhoods. As a community they will collect ideas, develop proposals, and then vote on how these funds can make Richmond a more thriving and beautiful city. For Miles, born, raised, and educated in Richmond, this is a unique opportunity to positively impact the city he calls a lifelong home base.

And luckily, we have the opportunity to provide a space for these initiatives of change to blossom. "[At Common House] I have connected with media professionals, tech wizards and fashionistas...my favorite aspect of being here is grabbing a cup of tea and striking up a conversation with a stranger," Miles mentions. Matthew adds that "this is key to why I am a member. It is building a community of people that are thinking about new ideas and doing important work."

Matthew & Miles will be hosting a Happy Hour this Wednesday, November 13, from 5:30-7:30p, where you'll have the chance to learn more about this exciting project and how our city government can help make Richmond a better place for all. As Matthew puts it: "Richmond is a city of creativity and hope. We need to find new ways to support everyone in playing a role in realizing those ideas and opportunities."