The American Public Works Association announced the theme “People, Purpose, Presence” for the 2025 National Public Works Week, May 18-24. Public works contributes to advancing and enhancing everyone’s quality of life, no matter where they live in the world. Public works professionals provide essential services that lead to healthier, happier, more vibrant communities.

This year’s theme, “People, Purpose, Presence,” highlights three cornerstone ideals that motivate public works professionals to serve in their communities every day. Meeting the needs of people is what gives public works its sense of purpose. Many times, public works professionals will never meet those whose lives have been impacted because when things are going right, no one knows that public works is there. Yet, with or without fanfare, public works is ever present, working in the background to advance quality of life for all.

Public works professionals provide an infrastructure of services in transportation; water, wastewater and stormwater treatment; public buildings and spaces; parks and grounds; emergency management and first response; solid waste; and right-of-way management. Whether serving as first responders, responding to electricity outages, providing regular waste pickup, or making roads and sidewalks passable after a winter weather event, public works professionals are always there when people need them. Join APWA in celebrating the quiet work these professionals do that makes life better for everyone.

About the artist

Capturing the spirit of the small, specialist shops of yesteryear, where a warm welcome and honest work ethic were the order of the day, Jones and Co. is a family-run studio based in Cape Town, South Africa. There, everyone plays a part — Dylan illustrates, his wife, Heike, takes care of production, and their kids, Anna-Rose and Sophie-Mae, provide inspiration as they relish the simple joys of childhood. It’s in this environment, between the ebb and flow of everyday family life that Jones and Co. creates and craft their passion — character design, editorial and all forms of vector illustration.