In October, residents of two Washington cities, Maple Valley and Covington, came together to tackle two of their communities’ most pressing challenges. In partnership with both cities, Civic Genius held...
“We all want change and we’re collectively moving forward. We just can’t put it into words because we’re too busy at each other’s throats.” This comment, from a participant in...
In the world of good governance and democracy reform, there’s often a gap between the people who study and promote new tools and practices and those who are doing the...
Neighborhoods are an essential aspect of local democracy, and for neighborhood groups to be truly democratic, there are at least five core principles they should embody: Representation: Do they reflect...
“We have to keep driving. It’s going to take courage.” “Until hearts and minds are changed, we have to keep doing the work.” “Leaders have to shift strategies to still...
More than 60 community foundation CEOs and senior leaders from across the country gathered in Chicago on September 30, 2025, for Community Foundations for Civic Health: Live in Chicago!, a...
While national politics is engendering increased distrust of government and political violence, local governments are finding new routes for de-escalation, civility, and problem-solving. Violence should never be tolerated, whether it’s...
A new national survey finds that while many Americans feel left out of local decision-making and disconnected from their neighbors, they remain eager for better ways to participate. The findings...
Last week, residents of New York’s 25th congressional district joined their congressman, Rep. Joe Morelle, for an experiment in democracy. (Thanks to WXXI, Rochester, NY’s NPR station for its coverage!) ...
