Civic Innovation, Tech, and Public Art: A Conversation with Entrepreneur Evan Meyer

<p>In this episode of The Neil Haley Show and Storehouse Media Group Podcast, Neil Haley and Sherrie Price Clark welcome Evan Meyer, an award-winning tech entrepreneur, civic activist, public policy speaker, and podcast host. Meyer discusses his work building technology and community-focused initiatives, including Beautify Earth, RideAmigos, MyGovTools, and the Meyerside Chats podcast.<br></p><p>Meyer shares the origins of Beautify Earth, which began in Santa Monica as a community activism initiative called Beautify Lincoln focused on transforming run-down urban areas through public art. He explains how the organization developed into both a nonprofit serving schools and underserved communities and a for-profit entity handling commercial mural projects and technology-enabled scaling.<br></p><p>The conversation also explores RideAmigos, which began as a taxi-sharing website in New York City before evolving into a transportation demand management platform. Meyer explains how the technology provides commuter analytics and behavior-change software for cities and large employers seeking to manage parking demand and reduce traffic.<br></p><p>Meyer also discusses his entrepreneurial philosophy of “Start With One,” emphasizing the importance of identifying a specific problem and first solving it for one person or one case before using systems and automation to scale the solution. The discussion examines the difference between simply owning a business and approaching entrepreneurship as a way to address unmet social needs.<br></p><p>The conversation then turns to civic technology and public trust through Meyer’s work with MyGovTools. He explains how the platform was developed in partnership with local officials to help city council members and local politicians communicate with constituents through transparent and regular newsletters while streamlining workflows and addressing data gaps.<br></p><p>Neil, Sherrie, and Meyer also discuss the impact of social media algorithms on civic engagement, including the tendency of major platforms to prioritize rage and clickbait. Meyer explains how his Meyerside Chats podcast provides a space for civil conversations with members of Congress, policy experts, and university deans, with the goal of exploring complex issues without taking hyper-partisan positions.<br></p><p>🧷 For More Information:<br>📍 Evan Meyer: evanmeyer.io<br> 📍Beautify Earth: beautifyearth.com / beautifyearth.org<br> 📍MyGovTools: mygovtools.org<br>📍 RideA